PHLPost Chief of Staff is CEU-Malolos Outstanding Alumni

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A Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) official recognized as an Outstanding Alumni of Centro Escolar University Alumni Foundation Inc. Malolos Chapter, last December 09, 2023,  at CEU Centrodome in Malolos City, Bulacan.

PHLPost Chief of Staff Marcos Ryan P. Laurente received the award from CEU Malolos Dean Dr. Maria Flordeliza Anastacio and Mr. Joseph R. Ventura, CEU AFI-Malolos Chapter President and Chair, Grand Alumni Homecoming, for his exceptional achievements and contributions in Public Service and Government, having truly set him apart, making him a shining example of the values and excellence CEU's Science and Virtue stands for.

"The CEU Alumni honors and highlights your remarkable journey," President Ventura said.

 "A recognition for the priceless years of Escolarian loyalty, career achievement, and virtuous altruism," the recognition read.

PHLPost Chief of Staff Laurente was recognized for his notable initiative in the Sulat Mulat Postal Awareness Caravan, an advocacy campaign by PHLPost to rekindle the efforts in the arts of letter writing among the youth. He spearheaded the National Letter Writing Day, an advocacy campaign celebrating World Post Day and promoting the enduring significance of handwritten letters.

"Thank you CEU Malolos for honoring me through this award”, Chief of Staff Laurente said.

“I am deeply grateful to my mother - Mama Libay and my father - Papa Rafael, especially my grandmother - Nanay Onor, for sending me to this institution. To my wife Mary Ann and kids - Joaquin and Athazia for their unwavering support. This award isn't just mine; it's a tribute to the love and strength they've given me. In gratitude, I extend this recognition to my PHLPost family. Together, we've woven a tapestry of achievements, and I am honored to share this milestone with you all. Thank you for being my pillars of strength and inspiration.", Laurente added.

In 2019, Laurente transitioned to the Philippine Statistics Authority, where he took on the role of Officer in Charge of the Government Sector Use Case Division for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys). This is just before he was called again to serve PHLPost as the Chief of Staff of the newly appointed Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos with the rank of Director III.

His professional journey reflects a new breed of public servant. 

ImagineLaw receives second Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for supporting cities to protect children, vulnerable road users on roads

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His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent once again awarded ImagineLaw, a non-profit, public interest law group based in Manila, Philippines, with the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award (PMIRSA) for the organization’s work in advancing child road safety in the Philippines.

For over 30 years, the Award has been given to groups and individuals with outstanding achievements and innovations that improve road safety around the world. ImagineLaw received its first award three years ago for its work on improving speed limit setting and enforcement in the Philippines.

This year, ImagineLaw received its second PMIRSA in recognition of its advocacy efforts that led to the enactment of comprehensive local road safety policies in the Philippines. With support from the United Nations Children’s Fund, ImagineLaw assisted Angeles City and Valenzuela City in developing and enacting local road safety laws that introduce best practice road safety interventions to be implemented through multi-sectoral coalitions composed of national and local government agencies, civil society, private sector, and the academe.

With the enactment of these policies, efforts are now ongoing to make roads safer for children and other vulnerable road users. The two cities have developed their road safety action plans and conducted road safety assessments around schools to identify engineering and other interventions needed to protect school-going children.

“We are extremely honored to receive this award for the second time. This award is a reminder of the importance of collaboration across all sectors to protect the most vulnerable road users. We hope that in the coming years, more local governments will follow the example of the Cities of Angeles and Valenzuela,” said ImagineLaw’s Executive Director Sophia San Luis.

Toxic Watchdog Group Commends FDA for Issuing Public Health Warning Against Goree 24K Gold Beauty Cream

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Toxic watchdog group BAN Toxics lauds the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Philippines for issuing the FDA Advisory No. 2023-2392 – a Public Health Warning against the purchase and use of unauthorized Goree 24K Gold Beauty Cream on November 21, 2023.

On October 13, BAN Toxics alerted consumers to the sale of skin-lightening products (SLPs) containing toxic mercury, a known hazard to human health. The group purchased a “new” brand of Pakistan-made SLPs sold for P200 in the local market. Monitoring online shopping platforms like Shoppe and Lazada, the products were found priced between P170 to P200.

Using a SCIAPS X-200 HH XRF Analyzer, the Goree 24k Gold Beauty Cream 3-in-1 Formula was discovered to contain toxic mercury, measuring up to 41,500 parts per million (ppm). This exceeds the allowable limit of 1 ppm set by the FDA and outlined in the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury prohibits the manufacture, import, or export of specific mercury-added products after 2020. According to this regulation, all cosmetic products must contain mercury concentrations of less than 1 part per million (ppm).

“We commend the FDA for issuing public health warnings against unnotified cosmetic products such as Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream to prevent potential hazards from prohibited ingredients such as toxic mercury,” said Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner, BAN Toxics.

“As part of our Safe Cosmetics campaign, we’re committed to monitoring and reporting the unauthorized sale of unregistered and unnotified Skin Lightening Products containing mercury in both on-site and online markets. Our goal is to protect human health and the environment from mercury exposure,” he added.

Mercury is among the World Health Organization’s top ten chemicals of major public health concern. Mercury lightens the skin by suppressing the production of melanin and can also remove age spots, freckles, blemishes, and wrinkles. However, its use can lead to rashes, skin discoloration, and blotching. Mercury can enter the body through absorption, inhalation, or ingestion.

A documented case study details a 54-year-old woman who developed dementia, epilepsy, and peripheral polyneuropathy at 49 after consistently using skin-lightening cream for six years. Upon promptly ceasing exposure, her blood and urine mercury levels reverted to levels typically found in individuals not exposed to such products.

Mercury from soaps, creams, and beauty products ultimately reaches our waterways. Once in the environment, it transforms into a harmful substance called methylmercury that enters our food chain, notably through fish consumption. Pregnant women who consume methylmercury-contaminated fish can pass it on to their babies, potentially causing developmental issues.

Republic Act 9711, or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale, among other things, of health products, including cosmetics, without the proper authorization from the agency.

BAN Toxics has been active in conducting market monitoring and test-buys of different skin-lightening products sold in the market or online to warn the public about the unlawful selling of skin-lightening products (SLPs) containing toxic mercury, a dangerous poison banned in cosmetic product formulations.

“Government regulators must collaborate on joint post-marketing surveillance and enforcement actions to curb the manufacture, trade, and sale of unnotified and unregistered cosmetic products in the country,” the group added.