ILOILO City – This holiday season, pick the right toys that will pose no harm to children, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Iloilo reminded shoppers.
“Some toys may have loose or small parts that could be inadvertently ingested by children, this is really dangerous,” said DTI-Iloilo director Judith Degala.
She stressed the importance of consumer vigilance.
“Check the toys for warning labels from manufacturers. Read and heed them,” said Degala.
For example, she said, some toys are not recommended for certain ages of children for safety reasons.
“Be a vigilant consumer. Be aware of advisories. Wala man nagapabaya ang aton mga manufacturers, ang aton government sa paghatag sang insakto nga information,” said Degala.
Some toys may have pointed or sharp edges that could injure the eyes or cause cuts and grazes. Some may have cords or string that may pose strangulation risk.
Early this month DTI, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) launches the annual holiday campaign “Ligtas Christmas sa Healthy Pilipinas”. It aims to guide the public on easy and doable ways to safely celebrate the holiday season.
Many consumers, more often than not, make a knee-jerk purchases based on the attractiveness, color, packaging and price of a toy, without paying attention to safety details, lamented the environmental group Ecowaste Coalition.
By applying the “Safety First” principle, it said parents and other toy givers can avoid offering toys that could put children’s health in danger instead of providing them with playthings to support their mental, physical, and social development.
It thus came out with an eight-point quick “Santa’s Guide for Safe Toys”:
1. age-appropriate;
2. well-made;
3. no small parts;
4. string shorter than 12 inches;
5. injury-free;
6. not coated with lead paint;
7. non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic; and
8. labeled and registered
This year, the “Ligtas Christmas sa Healthy Pilipinas” campaign focuses on three main behaviors to keep people safe and healthy amid the coronavirus pandemic. The public is reminded to continuously practice the minimum public health standards, choose healthier options during feasts and similar activities, and prevent fireworks-related injuries by avoiding its use and being prepared for accidents.
While there has been a decreasing number of coronavirus disease cases in the country, people are advised not to let their guard down and prioritize the health and safety of their families by practicing the minimum public health standards, said Health secretary Francisco Duque III.
The Health department also underscored the importance of choosing healthier options during the festivities. This can be done through food moderation, consumption of well-balanced and nutrient-rich food, avoidance of harmful intake of alcohol, and cessation of cigarette smoking and vaping./PN
