EcoWaste Coalition Calls for Strict Compliance to Lead Paint Ban in Schools Ahead of Brigada Eskwela 2026
The EcoWaste Coalition advocates for a healthy and toxics-free conduct of the Brigada Eskwela to promote a clean and safe environment for all children.
19 May 2026, Quezon City. To prevent and reduce children’s exposure to toxic lead, the EcoWaste Coalition today urged school authorities to ensure that only lead-safe paints are used during the Brigada Eskwela, which will start on June 1 to 5 as per Department of Education (DepEd) Memorandum Circular No. 27, series of 2026, signed by Secretary Sonny Angara. At the same time, the group reminded participants to clean up and paint safely, as disturbing old lead-based paints can create hazardous lead dust and chips.
The toxics watchdog group reminded Brigada Eskwela coordinators to ensure that white, colored and blackboard paints donated by parents, civic groups and private companies are compliant to DepEd Order No. 4, series of 2017, as well as Memorandum Circular No. 85, series of 2016, which the group previously advocated for to protect school children from being exposed to and harmed by lead-containing paint and dust, and advance the lead paint ban under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 2013-24.
“The use of independently certified lead safe paints/coatings shall be mandatory to all painting and/or repainting works of school facilities, furniture, fixtures, learning materials, tools, and equipment,” the DO No. 4 order stated.
Before the said order, MC No. 85 instructed schools to ensure “the use of lead-free paints at all times, especially during the conduct of activities related to Brigada Eskwela and other preparations for the opening of classes.”
In directing the mandatory use of lead-safe paints in all pre-school, elementary, and secondary schools, DepEd noted: “the use of lead safe paint shall reduce children’s exposure to toxic lead via lead-containing paint and thus, avoiding health impacts including learning disabilities, anemia, and disorders in coordination, visual, spatial, and language skills.”
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| Using lead safe paints and observing lead safe work pratices are essential to prevent and reduce chidlren's exposure to hazardous lead in dust and paint chips. |
To select paints without added lead, the EcoWaste Coalition advised consumers to patronize products manufactured by companies affiliated with the Philippine Paint & Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI), which has championed industry-wide removal of lead in paint production in line with DENR A.O. 2013-24.
In particular, the group encouraged consumers to choose products that have passed the third-party Lead Safe Paint® (LSP®) certification by the US-based SCS Global Services, which was developed by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) in collaboration with stakeholders such as the PPCAI and the EcoWaste Coalition.
Certified paint products are authorized to use the LSP® logo on paint cans, assuring consumers that the paint they buy conforms to the 90 parts per million (ppm) lead limit under DENR A.O. 2013-24.
To date, seven PPCAI member companies have successfully obtained LSP certification, including Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. (maker of Boysen, Nation, Titan, and Virtuoso Silk paints); Davies Paints Philippines, Inc. (Davies paints); Sycwin Coating & Wires, Inc. (Purecoat Advance, Purecoat Premium, Guilder and WeatherGard paints); Asian Coatings Philippines, Inc. (Rain or Shine, Alpha Chroma, Arkhon, Welcoat, Glasurit, Paralux, Polygloss, Texas, Trans-Lac, Trend, and USA paints); Roosevelt Chemical Inc. (Triton, Acri-Lux, Duracoat, Lotus, Primecoat, and Rosco paints); FH Colors & Coatings Corp. (A-Plus, Glazer, Hanscoat, and Kali paints); and Treasure Island Industrial Corp. (Island, Star, and Apollo paints).
The list of certified lead-safe paint products can be accessed here: https://www.ecowastecoalition.org/certified-lead-safe-paints-ph-list/
At a minimum, the EcoWaste Coalition urged participants to keep the following safety tips in mind to avoid the creation and dispersal of lead paint dust and chips:
- Do not dry scrape or dry sand lead-painted surfaces. Apply water to suppress the dust.
- Contain dust in the work area and cover the floor with protective sheets.
- Bag up old paint chips and debris, dispose of properly, and clean up the area with wet mopping.
- Wash hands and face thoroughly with soap and water before eating and after finishing work.
- Change out your clothes to avoid taking lead dust home.
The group further advised keeping kids and pregnant women out of the work area, as children and babies in the womb are highly vulnerable to the harmful and irreversible effects of lead exposure.
References:
https://www.deped.gov.ph/2017/01/18/do-4-s-2017-mandatory-use-of-lead-safe-paints-in-schools/https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DM_s2016_085.pdf
https://chemical.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DAO-2013-24-CCO-Lead.pdf
https://www.ecowastecoalition.org/certified-lead-safe-paints-ph-list/
https://www.leadsafepaint.org/
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/services/lead-safe-paint
https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-safe-renovations-diyers
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