ICP Board Election 2017: Call for Nominations

The term of office of three members of the ICP Board of Directors expires on 30 June 2017. Nominations are invited for the election of the ICP Board members who will hold office starting 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2020. Nomination is until 15 June 2017.

Please click on the links below to view and download the respective file:

Call for Nominations for ICP Board Election 2017

ICP Board Election 2017 Official Nomination Form

 

For inquiries, please send an email to: ICPComelec@gmail.com

ICP-Bacolod Organizes Seminar on Certificate to Operate Chemical Laboratories

Representatives from companies and institutions with chemical laboratories based in and around Bacolod City, Negros Occidental attended the one-day seminar on “Certificate to Operate Chemical Laboratories” held at the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel on 19 May 2017, organized by the ICP Bacolod Chapter. ICP-National officers Dr. Fabian Dayrit (President), Ms. Edna Mijares (VP-Externals), Ms. Priscilla Samonte (Public Information Officer), and PRC Board of Chemistry (PRC-BOC) members Dr. Adoracion Resurreccion, Dr. Soledad Castañeda, and Ms. Tess Cayton were present and went full force in ensuring that the participants gained significant knowledge on how to improve the management and standards of their respective chemical laboratories in accordance with the new Chemistry Profession Act.

This seminar is the culmination of the ICP and PRC-BOC’s four-day working visit to Negros Occidental, where they visited and inspected the chemical laboratories of local companies. (Text: Nick Tan; Photos: Arlene Matti)

Official Statement of the Philippine Chemistry Community on the Inclusion of Precursor and Essential Chemicals in the Death Penalty Bill

The Philippine Chemistry Community Strongly Urges our Legislators to Use Science in Drafting Laws:
The Death Penalty Bill and the Inclusion of Precursor and Essential Chemicals

The Philippine chemistry community, represented by the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS), strongly urges our legislators to use SCIENCE in drafting laws. House Bill 001, otherwise known as the “Death Penalty Law”, aims to address the scourge of dangerous drugs in Philippine society. While we recognize this important concern, we oppose the provisions that equate dangerous drugs themselves with precursor and essential chemicals. Because of their importance in industry, agriculture, health, education, and research, inclusion of these chemicals must be done with adequate scientific knowledge.

We wish to note the following important points:

1. The bill does not define and identify what are precursor chemicals and essential chemicals. Virtually all precursor chemicals and essential chemicals are multi-use chemicals. Precursor chemicals may also be precursors to other important products, such as pharmaceuticals, fragrances, cosmetics, agro-chemicals, and others. Likewise, essential chemicals may also be essential for many other purposes, including household and health uses. The cost to the economy can be staggering. The proposed bill is not scientifically rational.

2. Mere possession of a precursor chemical or an essential chemical is not equivalent to possession or manufacture of dangerous drugs. The proposed bill will criminalize legitimate users, and raise the cost of goods and damage the economy. This will also provide many opportunities for corruption.

3. The bill equates pure substances with mixtures. It does not distinguish a compound that is relatively pure with its presence in an essential oil or spice at 1% composition. It will criminalize possession of many medicinal plants and cooking ingredients.

This topic of precursor chemicals and essential chemicals should be discussed extensively together with experts in the field and with industry manufacturers.

The PFCS is composed of four organizations: the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP), Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas (KKP), Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers (PACT) and Philippine Association of Chemistry Students (PACS).

 

Signed:

Armando M. Guidote Jr., PhD
President, Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies

Fabian M. Dayrit, PhD
President, Integrated Chemists of the Philippines

Nestor S. Valera, PhD
President, Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas

Jose M. Andaya, PhD
President, Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers

Mr. John Michael Porca
President, Philippine Association of Chemistry Students

Requirement of the Chemistry Profession Act on the Certificate of Authority to Operate Chemical Laboratories

This is to inform all concerned of the passage into law of Republic Act No 10657 otherwise known as the Chemistry Profession Act. This new chemistry law came into full force and effect on 12 April 2015 or fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette last 27 March 2015.

In this light please be advised of its salient provisions regarding the operation of laboratories performing chemical analyses in the Philippines:

1.) Only firms, corporations, government agencies, academic institutions duly authorized by the Board, that hold a valid certificate may operate a chemical laboratory or engage in the practice of chemistry or chemical analysis in the Philippines ( SEC. 35. Certificate of Authority to Operate for Firms, Corporations and Government Agencies). For the requirements to secure this certificate of authority to operate please see the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10657 Rule XI section 46 and the Rules and Regulations Implementing Section 35 of Republic Act No. 10567 (Chemistry Profession Act) on the Issuance of Certificates to Operate Chemical Laboratories and Other Related Establishments. Grace period for compliance is 3 years after the law took effect or until April 12 2018.

2.) Only registered Chemists or registered Chemical Technicians holding valid certificates of registration (CRs) and professional identification certificates (PICs) issued by the Board and the Commission can carry out the chemistry practice in the chemical laboratory (Implementing Rules and Regulations RA 10657 Rule XI Section 46 .1)

3.) Only registered Chemists can head a chemical analyses laboratory and certify certificates of analyses. Only registered Chemists and Chemical Technicians can sign the analyzed by section of certificates of analyses (Implementing Rules and Regulations Rule XI Section 46.2)

4.) All new appointments to the following positions or designations must be registered Chemists with valid CRs and PICs: Heads of chemical laboratories / Supervisors of chemical work in a laboratory / Signatories to a chemical analysis (Implementing Rules and Regulations Rule XI Section 56)

5.) Registered chemists and registered chemical technicians working in chemical analyses laboratories are entitled to hazard pay, insurance and legal assistance (SEC. 42. Hazard Pay, Health and Accident Insurance, and Legal Assistance)

Many covered laboratories and establishments are not yet aware of this requirement of the law, thereby placing in jeopardy public safety and interest. We call upon all relevant government agencies, industries and academic institutions, to effectively enforce and implement this provision of the law. Local and international audit and standards accreditation bodies are also requested to include in their audit checklist compliance with such requirement. Most importantly, all covered chemical laboratories and establishments should comply with the requirement to secure the Certificate of Authority to Operate, under pain of penalties as provided for in Section 39 of R. A. No. 10657, which reads: “No chemical laboratory or firm shall undertake activities covered by this Act without a valid authority to operate the same. The president or the highest ranking officer of the corporation shall be held liable for violations of this Act. Upon conviction, these persons shall be sentenced to a penalty of imprisonment for a period of not less than one (1) month but not more than one (1) year, or a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than one million pesos (P1,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.”

For dissemination to all companies, government agencies, and academic institutions which are operating chemical laboratories and to all audit and standards accreditation bodies for inclusion in their audit checklist for compliance.

Thank you for helping to ensure that the provisions of the Chemistry Profession Act are properly implemented.