Hand Sanitizers Require 70% Ethanol

(English Translation)

Over the past few days, a number of YouTube and Facebook posts have appeared proposing the use of various distilled alcoholic products (such as lambanog, rhum, vodka) with bleach (made of hypochlorite) as hand sanitizer. The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) wishes to inform the public that such alcoholic products contain only about 40% alcohol and lack the concentration needed for a hand sanitizer. In addition, hypochlorite can cause skin irritation and inflammation.

Such products which are below the required 70% alcohol concentration should NOT BE USED as hand sanitizer. The preparation of hand sanitizers using bleach or hypochlorite should be done by trained professionals, such as chemists, pharmacists, chemical engineers, or medical technologists.

(Pagsasalin sa Filipino)

Nitong nakaraang mga araw, may naglipanang mga video sa Youtube at Facebook na naglalahad kung paano gamitin ang ilang mga produktong naglalaman ng alkohol (tulad ng lambanog, rhum, at vodka) at hinahaluan ng bleach (na gawa sa hypochlorite) upang maging hand sanitizer. Nais ipabatid ng ICP na ang mga nabanggit na produktong naglalaman ng alkohol ay kinasasangkapan ng 40% na alkohol lamang, na sadyang mahina upang gawing hand sanitizer. Ang hypochlorite naman ay nagdudulot ng pangangati at pamamaga ng balat.

Ang mga produktong may mas mababa sa 70% na sangkap na alkohol ay HINDI MAAARING GAMITIN bilang hand sanitizer. Samantala, ang pagtitimpla ng mga hand sanitizer gamit ang bleach o hypochlorite ay maaari lamang gawin ng mga tao na may sapat na pagsasanay tulad ng mga chemist, pharmacist, chemical engineer, o medical technologist.

Do NOT Use Industrial Chemicals for Hand Sanitizers

(English Translation)

Official Statement of the ICP Regarding Viral "Do-It-Yourself" Disinfectants on Social Media

Over the past few days, some proposals have appeared on social media suggesting ways by which people can prepare their own hand disinfectant solutions using industrial chemicals, such as denatured alcohol, hypochlorite, and others.

The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) discourages such practices because these can cause harm and may not be suitable for the intended use.

• Industrial chemicals are often very concentrated and require professional handling with personal protective equipment.

• Industrial chemicals are not meant for human use and may contain impurities which are harmful or carcinogenic.

(Pagsasalin sa Filipino)

Opisyal na Pahayag ng ICP Hinggil sa Kumakalat na "Do-It-Yourself" na mga Panlinis sa Social Media

Nitong nakaraang mga araw, lumabas ang ilang mga post sa social media na naglalahad kung paano magtimpla ang isang tao ng kani-kanilang mga disinfectant solution na ginagamitan ng mga kemikal na nakalaan lamang sa industriya, tulad ng denatured alcohol, hypochlorite, at iba pa.

Hindi hinihikayat ng Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) ang mga naturang panukala dahil maaari pa itong makasama sa kalusugan ng sinumang gagamit nito at maaaring hindi rin ito angkop para sa sinasabing paggagamitan.

• Ang mga kemikal na pang-industriya ay kalimitang sobrang matapang at kinakailangang bihasa ang tao na gagamit nito na may sapat na pananggalang.

• Ang mga kemikal na pang-industriya ay hindi nakalaan para gamitin sa tao, at maaari pang may nilalamang makapipinsala ng katawan o maging sanhi ng malubhang karamdaman tulad ng kanser.

80-Proof Alcohol is Not Suitable for Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer

(English translation)

80-proof alcohol is only equal to 40% alcohol

A minimum of 60% alcohol is needed for antibacterial effect

News articles appearing on March 16, 2020, reported that lambanog, which is about 80-proof alcohol, can be used as an alternative for rubbing alcohol as disinfectant.

The ICP wishes to advise the public that this claim is based on incorrect information.

  • 80-proof alcohol is equivalent to only about 40% ethanol
  • A minimum of 60% ethanol is needed for an antibacterial effect
  • Therefore, 80-proof lambanog should NOT be used as an antibacterial product

(Pagsasalin sa Filipino)

Ang 80-proof alkohol ay katumbas lamang ng 40% alkohol

Kinakailangang 60% o higit pa ang alkohol na sangkap upang makapuksa ng mga mikrobyo

May mga balitang lumabas noong ika-16 ng Marso na inuulat na ang lambanog, na gawa sa 80-proof na alkohol, ay maaaring gawing alternatibo sa rubbing alcohol bilang panlinis ng mga bagay-bagay.

Nais ipabatid ng ICP sa madla na ang balitang ito ay base sa maling impormasyon:

  • Ang 80-proof alkohol ay katumbas lamang ng 40% alkohol;
  • Kinakailangang 60% o higit pa ang alkohol na sangkap upang makapuksa ng mga mikrobyo;
  • Sumakatuwid, ang lambanog na 80-proof ay HINDI MAAARING gawing panlinis ng mga bagay-bagay.

Reference / Sanggunian: Reynolds, Levy and Walker. Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol. 12, No. 3, March 2006. Downloaded from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291447/pdf/05-0955.pdf

ICP Welcomes Zamboanga Peninsula Chapter


The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) continues to grow as its Zamboanga Peninsula Chapter (ICP-Zampen) has been formally launched last February 21 at the LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City. The launch was attended by 66 ICP members, made up of 47 chemists and 19 chemical technicians coming from 19 institutions in the area. This event also served as its first general assembly to gather its members coming from the government, academe, and industry sectors in the said region. ICP National President Dr Fabian Dayrit attended the event as its guest of honor and to throw support to the newest grouping of chemistry professionals in the country.

Together with the launch was the oathtaking of its inaugural set of officers, which was administered by Dr Dayrit:

President: Dr. Sheeva Y. Saddalani
Vice-President: Dr. Araceli A. Lim
Secretary: Mr. Allan Mark R. Ong
Treasurer: Ms. Knesa N. Ravis
Auditor: Mr. Reyner D. Anastacio
PIO: Mr. John Jill T. Villamor
Board of Directors: Mr. Oliver A. Atilano, Mr. Raymond Roy O. Aranton, Ms. Josel Marie P. Recentes

In addition, Dr Dayrit oriented the members of the many activities that the ICP regularly organizes, and challenged them to further uplift the state of chemistry profession in the region.

Congratulations and welcome to the ICP family, ICP-Zampen! Let us all work together for the benefit of chemists and chemical technicians in Zamboanga Peninsula!

ICP Kicks Off Chem Week 2020 with Seminar-Workshop on Risk, ISO/IEC 17025


To celebrate National Chemistry Week 2020, the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) has organized a seminar-workshop on Risk and ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Dubbed “Risky Business”, this was held on February 17 at the Manila Elks Lodge in Makati and facilitated by international asessor and ICP honorary member Dr Edgar Paski. Despite the continuing threat of the novel coronavirus, the event was well-attended by around 150 participants, coming mostly from chemical laboratories that will undergo ISO 17025:2017 re-accreditation.

Dr Paski oriented the participants on the definition of risk — the effect of uncertainty on an organization’s ability to meet its objectives — and also discussed recent guidelines and developments on risk management and ISO/IEC 17025. Throughout the event, Dr Paski offered best practices and techniques on how an organization can best address its own set of risk and how to weather it to become an opportunity.


The participants were also treated to solving a few situation-type problems involving SWOT analysis and risk assessment, which should prove beneficial especially to those participants who are directly involved in their respective company’s risk profile.

Also in attendance was the honorable Adoracion Resurreccion, chair of the Board of Chemistry of the Professional Regulation Commission. She formally handed out licenses to operate (LTO) to chemical laboratories and gamely shed light on some issues regarding hazard pay.


Certainly, the participants gained a plethora of knowledge and practical wisdom on how to further improve their respective institutions on the issue of risk and ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The ICP would like to express its gratitude to them for attending this event, and for Dr Paski for graciously conducting it.