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Article History

Received: 19 June 2020

Accepted: 13 October 2021

First Online: 23 October 2021

Declarations

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: The authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. The submission of the manuscript has no underlying conflict of interest among authors, funding agency and other stakeholders of the research project.

: The questionnaire and methodology for this study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Ateneo de Manila University prior to the start of the research. The main objectives of the study were also discussed carefully with the local government and members of the community in several preparatory orientation sessions prior to sampling. All the participants were given written informed consent after the orientations which provided details of the process as well as the possible outcomes of the study.

: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. With the identified scope of study (including human hair as samples), the researchers have initiated the required protocol of getting the consent of the community as well as the individual participants for the research project to be implemented in the study area as well as to acquire the needed type of samples. Proper documentation of the protocol has been done.

: Informed consent was obtained from all participants from whom identifying information is included in the manuscript. The authors have also acquired the consent from the funding agency, the community in the study area and other stakeholders to publish the manuscript. Data presented and interpretations made were reviewed and were given approval for inclusion in the manuscript.