Yorme must act on asbestos in Ermita

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno must act on asbestos containing materials taken from the old Philamlife building located along U. N Avenue corner Orosa Street, Ermita, Manila now stocked in the building.

Completed in 1961, the Philamlife building was bought in 2012 by SM Development Corporation from the insurance company. SMDC started to demolish the old structure in August and planned to build a mall and a condominium. 

We don’t know the reasons why the asbestos containing materials removed were not dispose right away. The toxic materials are now stored in one of the rooms and the longer it is there the more the demolish and construction workers including other people in hotels, restaurants, hospital, police station, banks around it are exposed to cancerous asbestos dusts.

Mayor Isko should act quickly and ensure these poisonous materials are disposed and buried as toxic waste before it compromises the health and safety of his constituents and the entire community. 

Once asbestos dust invade our body, it causes  incurable cancers, lung diseases and other serious diseases years laters. That is why many countries have banned asbestos because it caused deaths of many who were exposed to it.