Toxic Trade in the Shadows: Environmental Watchdog Sounds Alarm on Illegal Mercury Sales on Facebook Marketplace

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Metro Manila, Philippines — As the Philippines marked the fifth anniversary of its ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, what should have been a milestone in environmental protection became a grim reminder of a lingering threat. On July 9, 2025, the environmental advocacy group BAN Toxics rang the alarm bells: elemental mercury, one of the world’s most dangerous neurotoxins, is being openly traded on Facebook Marketplace.

In an age where online platforms dominate everyday commerce, this revelation has sparked outrage and fear. Despite the Philippines’ legal commitments to eliminate the use and trade of mercury—a substance known to inflict irreversible damage on the brain, kidneys, and environment—23 active online listings were discovered across cities including Makati, Quezon City, Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and even Baguio. These listings, offering mercury in flasks priced up to ₱71,000 for 34.5 kg, describe it enticingly as a “high-density, silver-colored liquid metal” used in gold mining and scientific applications.

But what they fail to disclose is its deadly legacy.

A Deadly Legacy in Liquid Silver

Mercury, or quicksilver, is not just another chemical. It is the villain behind one of the most devastating environmental disasters in history—the Minamata Disease of Japan, which inspired the global Minamata Convention. Victims of mercury poisoning suffered neurological breakdowns, birth defects, and, in many cases, death.

Despite this dark history, the substance continues to find its way into the hands of those seeking profit over people, slipping past the protective barriers of legislation and digital regulation. According to Thony Dizon, Advocacy and Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics, “It is appalling that toxic mercury continues to be sold openly, especially through online platforms.”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have all issued stringent policies and bans regarding mercury use—from outlawing mercury thermometers and dental amalgam to regulating chemical imports under DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-20.

Yet the digital marketplace seems immune to these rules.

Facebook, Lazada, Shopee: A Toxic Supply Chain?

The group’s monitoring not only implicated Facebook Marketplace but also identified Facebook groups and isolated listings on Lazada and Shopee. These platforms, which boast millions of users, have apparently become unwitting facilitators of a hazardous underground trade.

“Online platforms have a moral and legal responsibility to police listings involving banned substances,” emphasized Dizon. BAN Toxics is now calling for a coordinated crackdown, urging the DENR-EMB, DTI, and tech companies to trace the sellers and take down illegal listings immediately.

Blood Gold: Mercury in Small-Scale Mining

The likely destination of these mercury sales? Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).

Though its use is banned, mercury remains a mainstay in ASGM communities—poor, remote, and under-supported sectors that rely on low-cost methods to extract gold. According to Arleen Honrade, Community Development Officer of BAN Toxics and Secretary of the National Coalition of Small-Scale Miners of the Philippines, Inc. (NCSSMPI), many miners are trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependence on toxic practices.

“This is not just an environmental issue; it's a justice issue,” said Honrade. “The lack of support for mercury-free technologies keeps these communities in danger.”

BAN Toxics and NCSSMPI are advocating for the amendment of Republic Act No. 7076—the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act—to institutionalize better funding, training, and access to safe, sustainable mining alternatives.

A Call for Accountability and Action

Perhaps the most haunting question is this: How is mercury still getting into the country?

With importation heavily restricted under Article 3 of the Minamata Convention, the group suspects illegal smuggling and transboundary trade, likely enabled by weak customs enforcement and anonymous e-commerce channels.

BAN Toxics is pushing for intergovernmental cooperation—a united front involving customs, digital platforms, environmental agencies, and law enforcement. “We must plug the gaps,” the group declared, “before more lives are lost or harmed.”

Final Warning or Wake-Up Call?

On what should have been a celebration of progress, the country was instead reminded that regulations are only as strong as their enforcement. Mercury, invisible but insidious, continues to poison not just rivers and soils, but systems—both environmental and digital.

The question now looms over us all: Will the government and tech giants act, or will toxic mercury continue to flow silently beneath the surface of Filipino society?

One thing is certain—BAN Toxics won't be silenced. And neither should we.

For updates and calls to action, follow Wazzup Pilipinas and support the fight for a mercury-free Philippines.

Rewiring the Future: DepEd and DICT Ignite Digital Revolution in Philippine Schools with Marcos-Led National Fiber Backbone Launch

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In a nation where the digital divide has long dictated the rhythm of educational progress, a new pulse is emerging—faster, stronger, and undeniably transformative.

Makati City, July 9, 2025 — On a symbolic day etched into the timeline of Philippine digital development, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stood at the heart of Leyte to launch Phases 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB)—a defining milestone in his administration’s thrust toward a digitally empowered nation. But beyond the optics and political fanfare, this launch reverberates with real, measurable hope—especially for the country’s far-flung schools and the learners who’ve waited far too long to be seen, heard, and most importantly, connected.

With the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) now shifting gears into overdrive, the ambitious goal is clear: connect every public school in the Philippines to the internet by the end of 2025.

And with this new fiber backbone rolling out across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, that goal no longer feels like a pipe dream—it feels inevitable.

600 Sites. 17 Million Lives. One Infrastructure.

The scope is staggering. Thirty-one new connection points will fortify digital corridors across the country, granting over 600 government offices, including thousands of schools, access to fast, reliable internet. Nearly 17 million Filipinos are expected to directly benefit from this massive push.

“Kapag buo na ang National Fiber Backbone, maaari pang mabawasan ang gastos sa mga telco at internet providers dahil may sarili na tayong imprastruktura,” President Marcos emphasized at the launch. “Mas abot-kayang internet, mas maraming Pilipino ang konektado.”

This isn’t just infrastructure—it’s emancipation from the chronic disconnection that has left many Filipinos digitally disenfranchised, especially in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).

Bay-ang National High School: From Dead Zone to Digital Beacon

Just a few months ago, Bay-ang National High School in Ajuy, Iloilo, was a “dead spot.” Teachers were forced to travel to nearby barangays just to attend webinars or submit digital reports. Today, it stands as a beacon of transformation.

Thanks to the Digital Bayanihan Project—a joint initiative of DepEd and DICT now powered by the NFB—the school now enjoys free public WiFi. Teachers like Harence Cacho no longer trek across towns in search of data signals.

“Kapag may online webinars noon, pumupunta pa kami sa lugar kung saan may internet connection. Pero lahat ng ’yan nabago nung dumating ang free WiFi for all,” Cacho shared.

Now, students and educators access online modules, conduct virtual classes, and finally participate in the broader digital learning ecosystem.

A Multi-Phased Digital Bayanihan

The NFB is just the backbone—the body of this nationwide digital revolution comprises several coordinated parts:

Digital Bayanihan Project: Now reaching previously unserved schools with public WiFi infrastructure.

Bayanihan SIM Program: Free SIM cards with mobile data for 113,000 learners, 3,800 teachers, and 357 schools, launched first in Bulacan, Zambales, and Quezon on June 27.

PSIP Connect (PPP for School Infrastructure Project for Digitalization): Slated for Q4 2026, this visionary plan brings devices, solar-powered solutions, and satellite internet to the most remote corners of the archipelago.

“Hindi natin mapapalago ang kalidad ng edukasyon kung hindi konektado ang ating mga paaralan sa mundo,” declared Education Secretary Sonny Angara. “Isinusulong natin ang digital inclusion na tunay na may malasakit.”

The Political Will to Connect a Nation

This is not just an education story—it’s a story of national strategy, inter-agency synergy, and bold political will. In an era when education, governance, and technology must converge to remain relevant, the Marcos administration is laying down literal and metaphorical fiber lines to a more inclusive and future-ready Philippines.

The presence of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and DICT Secretary Henry Aguda at the launch only underlines the government's unified front in this initiative.

With more than 47,000 public schools under DepEd, many of them in mountainous, island, or rural locations, the challenges ahead are steep—but the roadmap is clear, and the engine is now humming with potential.

The Revolution Will Be Digitized

From the dusty classrooms of Ajuy to the bustling avenues of Makati, the impact of this moment will ripple for generations. Because when a school gains internet access, it doesn’t just log on to the web—it logs in to a world of possibility.

Students become future coders, writers, thinkers, leaders.

Teachers become not just educators, but bridges to the future.

And the Philippines, long burdened by connectivity inequity, takes one seismic step closer to becoming a truly inclusive, tech-empowered nation.

In this defining push to connect every classroom and uplift every learner, fiber isn’t just cable—it’s courage.

And the signal is strong.

Philippines Accelerates Tech Growth: Explore What’s Next in Consumer Electronics, Safety, and Security at WOCEE and WOSAS 2025

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As the Philippines continues its fast-paced digital transformation, advancements in technology, safety, and security are reshaping the way Filipinos live, work, and connect. In response to this growing momentum, WOCEE (World of Consumer Electronics Expo) and WOSAS (World of Safety and Security Expo) return this July 30 to August 2, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City—bringing together the latest innovations that define modern living and smart protection.              

WOCEE 2025 will spotlight breakthroughs in consumer electronics, AI, robotics, mobile tech, and smart living solutions. From interactive demos to emerging tech showcases, the expo is a vital platform for Filipinos to explore how these technologies can enhance everyday life, improve productivity, and fuel business growth.

Running alongside WOCEE, WOSAS 2025 focuses on public and private safety solutions—covering surveillance, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, smart cities, emergency response systems, and more. As digital integration increases, the need for secure environments—both online and offline—has never been more urgent.

Buyers interested in attending both WOCEE (World of Consumer Electronics Expo 2025) and WOSAS (World of Safety & Security Expo 2025) are encouraged to pre-register at https://register.worldbexevents.com/registration to skip the long queues onsite.

Whether you are a business owner, technology enthusiast, government official, student, or consumer, these expos offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore what is possible and essential in the evolving Philippine landscape .

Organized by Worldbex Services International, the country’s leading exhibition and events management company since 1996, these events reflect decades of expertise in staging world-class expos across various industries. 

Be part of the nation’s tech and security advancement. Visit WOCEE and WOSAS 2025.

WazzupPilipinas.com is a proud media partner.