Author Archive: admin

On the Use of Chemicals to Clean Face Masks and Other PPEs

Posted on

(English Translation)

Official Statement of the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) on the Use of Chemicals to Clean Face Masks and Other PPEs

The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) wishes to advise the public to follow the manufacturer’s specification on the proper use and care of face masks. For washable cloth face masks, use detergent or soap and water.

The ICP does not recommend the use of gasoline or diesel to clean face masks or other personal protective equipment (PPE).

All grades of gasoline are considered hazardous with immediate (acute) and long-term (chronic) effects to health. Gasoline contains compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are toxic and/or carcinogenic.

Gasoline is also a skin and eye irritant, may affect the central nervous system, and may be harmful or fatal if swallowed.

(Pagsasalin sa Filipino)

Opisyal na Pahayag ng ICP Tungkol sa Paggamit ng Mga Kemikal Sa Panlinis ng Mga Face Mask at Iba Pang Mga Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Ang Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) ay nais na magpayo sa publiko na sundin ang wastong paggamit at pangangalaga ng mga face mask ayon sa payo ng manufacturer. Para sa mga face mask na maaaring hugasan (washable face masks), gumamit lang ng sabon o sabong pandamit at tubig.

Hindi inirerekumenda ng ICP ang paggamit ng gasolina o diesel bilang panlinis ng mga face mask o iba pang personal protective equipment (PPE).

Ang lahat ng uri ng gasolina ay maituturing na mapanganib na nagdudulot ng masamang epekto sa kalusugan. Naglalaman ang gasolina ng mga sangkap tulad ng BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) at PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) na nakalalason at nagiging sanhi ng kanser.

Ang gasolina ay nagdudulot din ng pangangati ng balat at mata, at maaaring makaapekto sa central nervous system. Mapanganib at posibleng makamatay din ang mga ito kapag nalunok.

References / Mga Sanggunian:

1. OSHA MSDS (Gasoline)
2. UP National Poison Management and Control Center (https://www.facebook.com/upnpmcc/)
3. E Reese and R D Kimbrough, Acute toxicity of gasoline and some additives. Environ Health Perspect. 1993; 101(Suppl 6): 115–131.
4. Medical Management Guidelines for Gasoline, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Center for Disease Control (https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=465&tid=83)

Team Philippines Bags Silver, Bronze Medals in 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad

Posted on

The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) is proud to announce that the country’s competing delegates in the 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) took home one silver and three bronze medals from the annual event. Slated to be physically held in Istanbul, Turkey, this edition of the IChO featured 235 high school students from sixty countries, and had to be conducted online for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its virtual closing ceremony held on July 30, the IChO awarded medals and citations to the winners. The medalists from the Philippines are:

Silver Medalist
Michael Cole Tantoco (Philippine Science High School [PSHS] Main Campus)

Bronze Medalists
Nathan Wayne Ariston (PSHS Central Mindanao Campus)
Ron Angelo Gelacio (PSHS Main Campus)
Stefan Marcus Ong (Saint Jude Catholic School)

While the gold medal is still elusive, this year’s medal haul is the country’s best-ever performance and also marks the first time that all delegates from Team Philippines will take home one medal each.

Serving as this year’s main coaching staff are: Dr Faith Marie Lagua (De La Salle University), head coach and mentor; Dr Jose Andaya (PSHS CALABARZON Campus), head mentor and country coordinator; and Dr Nestor Valera (Ateneo de Manila University) and Dr Hilbert Magpantay (De La Salle University), coaches and mentors.

First held in 1968, the IChO is an annual competition for high school students in the field of chemistry. The Philippines sent its maiden competing delegation to the competition in 2017, taking home two bronze medals.

Congratulations from the ICP!

ICP Board Election 2020: Results

Posted on

The ICP Election 2020 Committee is pleased to announce the results of the elections for ICP Board of Directors. The elected board members (in bold) who will serve from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2023 are:

Academe
Glenn Alea (155)
Abstain (8)

Government
Angelo Bugarin (145)
Abstain (18)

Industry
Priscilla Alice “Mutya” Samonte (146)
Abstain (17)

Ballots received:
Valid: 163
Invalid: 7
Total: 170

The Committee would like to thank all those who participated and voted in this election. We would like to also thank Ms Nenita Marayag, outgoing board director of the ICP National Chapter, for having served as its board member (2017-2019) and auditor (2019-2020).

Let us all continue to support the different activities of the ICP.

Sincerely,
ICP Election 2020 Committee
Dr Lilibeth Coo (Chair)
Ms Edna Mijares (Member)
Dr Rosalinda Torres (Member)

ICP Board Election 2020: List of Candidates and How to Vote

Posted on

The following individuals have been nominated for the 2020 ICP Board Election (click on the name of a candidate to view their brief profile and statement of candidacy):

Academe
Dr Glenn Alea (De La Salle University - Manila)

Government
Mr Angelo Bugarin (Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority)

Industry
Ms Priscilla Alice "Mutya" Samonte (Nuevochem Specialties)

(Candidates who were not able to submit their candidate profile form before the deadline are NOT anymore included in the ballot, as ruled by the ICP Board Election 2020 Committee.)

The election (through online voting) will be from June 15 (Monday), 9AM until June 25 (Thursday), 11:59PM.

Voting will be done online (link found below). Only active REGULAR members of the ICP are allowed to cast their votes; an active member is a registered chemist who has an unexpired membership to the ICP (June 2020 to June 2023). Associate members (those with "A" in their membership card number, or members who are chemical technicians) and foreign members of the ICP are NOT required to vote.

The voter is required to present any one of the following proofs of active ICP membership:

  • uploading a scanned copy / photograph of your ICP membership card, or
  • uploading a scanned copy / photograph of your ICP membership application official receipt, or
  • uploading a scanned copy / photograph of your ICP membership confirmation e-mail, or
  • uploading a scanned copy / photograph of your ICP regional chapter membership certificate, or
  • by typing in your ICP membership card number, or
  • by typing in your PRC chemist license number (provided you are an active ICP member).

The ICP Election 2020 Committee shall verify the validity of the voter's active membership to the ICP before his/her ballot is duly counted.

Call for Feedback: Chemistry Professionals Career Progression Program

Posted on

Active ICP members are requested to send in their comments and suggestions on the (1) proposed guidelines on the creation of a career progression and specialization program for the chemistry profession and the (2) links between the chemistry professional qualification program to the Philippine Qualifications Framework.

A copy of each document may be viewed and downloaded from the links below:

To send in your feedback, kindly make the necessary track-change corrections on the actual documents and attach them (in doc/docx format) to an e-mail addressed to integratedchemists@gmail.com. The deadline for the feedback is on June 26. Thank you.