A month ago, a half-page ad at the Philippine Daily Inquirer screamed, “Asbestos: The Silent Killer.” The subheadline cried, “At least 90,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestoseosis resulting from occupational exposures.” The body of the ad was a lengthy write-up on the horrors of asbestos.

The ad brought back some bitter memories. About 40 years ago, as one of several senior executives of the FGU Insurance Group, I found myself in the middle of a huge problem.

Some years back, Ayala had set up in London a subsidiary called Filipinas Overseas Brokers. FOB handled all the outward reinsurance requirements of FGU. At the same time, FOB was to generate inward reinsurance business into FGU. It was an exciting and pioneering venture.

Then one day, FOB accepted, for and in behalf of FGU, and at a ridiculously low premium, a share of an all-risks policy that included liability arising out of asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestoseosis. To make matters worse, the policy limits were sky-high and open-ended. In other words, as long as the claimant was alive, the policy paid for all his medical and hospital expenses. (By the way, the hospital and medical policies now available in the Philippines are extremely limited.)

Year after year, the huge claims under the policy ate up all the profits FGU made in the Philippines. It was one of the major causes that led to the eventual collapse of FGU.

That was history. To discuss the present controversy, let me quote from a publication of the Chrysotile Institute, info@chrysotile.com: “The word asbestos is a commercial term to indicate any fibrous mineral with a fibrous form. There are two families of asbestos: chrysotile (white asbestos) and the amphiboles.

“Except for sharing the same commercial term—asbestos—these two groups have completely different chemical compositions; therefore, different effects on the human body.”

“There is an overwhelming number of published data showing that the mortality experience of workers handling amphiboles is much more severe than that of workers exposed to chrysotile only.”

It looks like what caused FGU’s woes were amphiboles, not chrysotile.

Another publication of the Institute says, “Recent animal experimentation shows that soon after chrysotile fibers are inhaled, they are quickly cleared from the lungs. On the contrary, amphiboles, which resist the acidic environment of the lungs, are not cleared as rapidly. The amphiboles remain in the lungs for periods up to a year or more.”

But, what about the asbestos products available today? Do they pose any dangers to the consumer?

When I renovated my house about thirty years ago, I lined the eaves, the ceilings at the carport and back porch with asbestos cement sheets. I also used asbestos cement pipes for the downspouts. I did not even know I was using chrysotile.

After all these years, the sheets and downspouts have stood the ravages of all sorts of weather. And, I do not see any danger to life and limb.

There is a bill in Congress that proposes to regulate asbestos, including chrysotile. Let us all hope that our lawmakers will truly demonstrate their concerns about protecting the health of workers and the Pilipino people.