Briones says vaping included in DepEd's absolute ban on smoking in all schools
Published Nov 16, 2019 01:57 pm
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Education Secretary Leonor Briones reiterated the “absolute ban” on all forms of smoking in all schools and its offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) following the confirmation of the first reported local case of “electronic-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury” (EVALI).
Education Secretary Leonor Briones (SCREENSHOT / RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN)
Briones, in a recent press conference, said that the use, distribution, sale and offering of e-cigarettes or “vapes” is “strictly prohibited” in places where smoking cigarettes are absolutely banned.
“We just have received the information and we will take cue from the DOH if this is considered harmful,” Briones said when asked for a reaction on the reported probable case of EVALI involving a 16-year-old girl from Central Visayas.
Briones said that DepEd will wait for the official recommendation from DOH regarding e-cigarettes or vaping. However, she noted that “if there’s a reported case already, there might be other cases that are not yet reported so this could be very dangerous so we need to act on it immediately.”
On the other hand, Briones stressed that “smoking, in general, is very harmful and is forbidden in school premises and e-cigarettes is covered .” If DOH, she said, suggests “that this is harmful so we will take a cue from them.”
Meanwhile, Briones reminded learners and DepEd personnel - as well as the public - that “in the long run, smoking is very harmful because it will lead to lung cancer which is one of the most painful ways to die.”
Ban in Schools, DepEd Offices
In August this year, Briones issued DepEd Memorandum No. 111 series of 2019 reminding all concerned DepEd officials as well as public and private school heads, reiterated that the “sale and use of cigarettes (smoking)” as well as the “distribution, sale, and offering and the use of and other electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery system (ENDS/ENNDS)” are “absolutely prohibited” in all schools and DepEd offices.
Briones explained that the DOH – as the overall technical authority in the provision of the national policy direction on health – issued last June 14 the Administrative Order No. 2019-0007 citing the revised rules on ENDS/ENNDS.
In issuing the directive, Briones cited that in the DOH administrative order, ENDS/ENNDS are described as “combinations of non-tobacco-containing e-liquids or refills and an electronic delivery device to produce an aerosol, mist, or vapor that users inhale by mimicking the act of smoking” and these devices are commonly known as “e-cigarettes or vapes.”
Briones noted that in the DOH AO 2019-0007, it is provided that “the distribution, sale, and offering for sale of cigarettes is prohibited in places where sale and use of cigarettes are prohibited,” and that the “use of END/ENNDS shall be banned in places where smoking is prohibited.”
Citing its own department order No. 48 s. of 2016 or the Policy Guidelines on Comprehensive Tobacco Control, Briones reiterated that the “sale and use” of cigarettes or smoking are “absolutely prohibited” in schools and its offices.
Briones noted that in line with DepEd’s DO 48 s. of 2016, all schools— through their respective Child Protection Committees – and all regional and schools division offices, with the technical assistance of their designated Tobacco Control Coordinators are directed to “ensure the enforcement of the ban on the distribution, sale, and offering of use of ENDS/ENNDS and tobacco products” in all schools and DepEd offices.
Concerned personnel were also reminded on the implementation of the ban on any form of advertising and promotion of ENDS/ENNDS and tobacco products, and on sponsorship— including corporate social responsibility – in all premises and activities of all schools and DepEd offices.
Briones also also directed school personnel and tobacco control coordinators to “coordinate and collaborate” with their respective local government units (LGUs), in observing and ensuring the implementation of the guidelines provided under the DOH AO 2019-0007, including the prohibition of the use of ENDS/ENNDS “among young people who are below the minimum allowable age, and in adopting or enacting more stringent measures, when necessary.”
Violations committed by learners, Briones said, “shall be handled in accordance” with the DO No. 40 series of 2012 or the “Child Protection Policy.” Meanwhile, she explained that for violations committed by personnel, she said that the DO 49 s. of 2006 or the revised rules of procedure in administrative cases “shall be followed” – among other related violations.
In a separate memorandum also issued in August, Briones announced the designation and regional and schools division personnel to handle smoking cessation or brief tobacco intervention (BTI) and providing necessary training to concerned personnel.
Briones, in DepEd Memorandum 110 s. of 2019 enjoined all Regional Directors (RDs) and school division superintendents to “designate a personnel to handle smoking cessation”— specifically BTI – for other personnel in their respective offices in need of such service.
Meanwhile, Briones noted that “learners and personnel who are in need of brief tobacco intervention and/or referral to cessation services shall continue to be provided with such services.”
In order to support the enforcement on the bans on ENDS/ENNDS, she directed all schools – with the assistance of the concerned offices at the central, regional, and schools division offices – are also instructed to “educate learners about the ENDS/ENNDS through curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities, whenever appropriate and applicable.”
Education Secretary Leonor Briones (SCREENSHOT / RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN)
Briones, in a recent press conference, said that the use, distribution, sale and offering of e-cigarettes or “vapes” is “strictly prohibited” in places where smoking cigarettes are absolutely banned.
“We just have received the information and we will take cue from the DOH if this is considered harmful,” Briones said when asked for a reaction on the reported probable case of EVALI involving a 16-year-old girl from Central Visayas.
Briones said that DepEd will wait for the official recommendation from DOH regarding e-cigarettes or vaping. However, she noted that “if there’s a reported case already, there might be other cases that are not yet reported so this could be very dangerous so we need to act on it immediately.”
On the other hand, Briones stressed that “smoking, in general, is very harmful and is forbidden in school premises and e-cigarettes is covered .” If DOH, she said, suggests “that this is harmful so we will take a cue from them.”
Meanwhile, Briones reminded learners and DepEd personnel - as well as the public - that “in the long run, smoking is very harmful because it will lead to lung cancer which is one of the most painful ways to die.”
Ban in Schools, DepEd Offices
In August this year, Briones issued DepEd Memorandum No. 111 series of 2019 reminding all concerned DepEd officials as well as public and private school heads, reiterated that the “sale and use of cigarettes (smoking)” as well as the “distribution, sale, and offering and the use of and other electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery system (ENDS/ENNDS)” are “absolutely prohibited” in all schools and DepEd offices.
Briones explained that the DOH – as the overall technical authority in the provision of the national policy direction on health – issued last June 14 the Administrative Order No. 2019-0007 citing the revised rules on ENDS/ENNDS.
In issuing the directive, Briones cited that in the DOH administrative order, ENDS/ENNDS are described as “combinations of non-tobacco-containing e-liquids or refills and an electronic delivery device to produce an aerosol, mist, or vapor that users inhale by mimicking the act of smoking” and these devices are commonly known as “e-cigarettes or vapes.”
Briones noted that in the DOH AO 2019-0007, it is provided that “the distribution, sale, and offering for sale of cigarettes is prohibited in places where sale and use of cigarettes are prohibited,” and that the “use of END/ENNDS shall be banned in places where smoking is prohibited.”
Citing its own department order No. 48 s. of 2016 or the Policy Guidelines on Comprehensive Tobacco Control, Briones reiterated that the “sale and use” of cigarettes or smoking are “absolutely prohibited” in schools and its offices.
Briones noted that in line with DepEd’s DO 48 s. of 2016, all schools— through their respective Child Protection Committees – and all regional and schools division offices, with the technical assistance of their designated Tobacco Control Coordinators are directed to “ensure the enforcement of the ban on the distribution, sale, and offering of use of ENDS/ENNDS and tobacco products” in all schools and DepEd offices.
Concerned personnel were also reminded on the implementation of the ban on any form of advertising and promotion of ENDS/ENNDS and tobacco products, and on sponsorship— including corporate social responsibility – in all premises and activities of all schools and DepEd offices.
Briones also also directed school personnel and tobacco control coordinators to “coordinate and collaborate” with their respective local government units (LGUs), in observing and ensuring the implementation of the guidelines provided under the DOH AO 2019-0007, including the prohibition of the use of ENDS/ENNDS “among young people who are below the minimum allowable age, and in adopting or enacting more stringent measures, when necessary.”
Violations committed by learners, Briones said, “shall be handled in accordance” with the DO No. 40 series of 2012 or the “Child Protection Policy.” Meanwhile, she explained that for violations committed by personnel, she said that the DO 49 s. of 2006 or the revised rules of procedure in administrative cases “shall be followed” – among other related violations.
In a separate memorandum also issued in August, Briones announced the designation and regional and schools division personnel to handle smoking cessation or brief tobacco intervention (BTI) and providing necessary training to concerned personnel.
Briones, in DepEd Memorandum 110 s. of 2019 enjoined all Regional Directors (RDs) and school division superintendents to “designate a personnel to handle smoking cessation”— specifically BTI – for other personnel in their respective offices in need of such service.
Meanwhile, Briones noted that “learners and personnel who are in need of brief tobacco intervention and/or referral to cessation services shall continue to be provided with such services.”
In order to support the enforcement on the bans on ENDS/ENNDS, she directed all schools – with the assistance of the concerned offices at the central, regional, and schools division offices – are also instructed to “educate learners about the ENDS/ENNDS through curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities, whenever appropriate and applicable.”