Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Thursday, March 18 called for stricter enforcement of regulations on the use, sale, and manufacturing of E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
During a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship yesterday, Go said he supports the decision of health experts on this issue.
“Maganda na mayroong mas mahigpit na regulasyon ang ating awtoridad na may kaugnayan sa lahat ng uri ng e-cigarettes. Suportado ko po ito — ang mga polisiya na naglalayong mas maprotektahan ang kalusugan ng ating mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng mas mahigpit na regulasyon (It is good that our authorities have stringent regulations on all kinds of e-cigarettes. I support this — policies aiming to provide protection to the health of our people through the enforcement of stricter regulations),” he said.
Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, also expressed support on measures to regulate products that may contain or emit potentially toxic substances or highly addictive substances which are harmful to health.
“We should not allow the unregulated use of these products and how it is easily accessed by minors. I also echo the advice of health officials and experts for the public to refrain from using vapes and e-cigarettes as the knowledge on the products is still limited,” he said.
Go stated that he would always support measures that aim to promote the health and well-being of every Filipino.
He said that the country must strike a balance between regulating products that may be alternative to or less risky than traditional tobacco products and protecting public health, especially with the objective of preventing addiction among our youth.
“As Chair of the Health Committee, uunahin ko po ang kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino, ang kalusugan nila. Kung ang usapin ay sa pagitan ng negosyante o kalusugan ng Pilipino, pipiliin ko po ang kalusugan ng Pilipino (As chairman of the Health Committee, I will prioritize the welfare of every Filipino. If the health issue is between the businessmen and the health of the Filipinos, I will chose the health of the Filipinos),” he said.
Discussed during the hearing were Senate Bills (SBs) 496, or the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, filed by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III; SB 541, or E-Cigarette Regulation Act of 2019, filed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri; SB 1951, or Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto; and SB 2099, or Vapes and HTPS Regulation Act filed by Senator Pia S. Cayetano.
The bills seek to regulate the manufacture, importation, sale, distribution, use, advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS), heated tobacco products (HTPs), and other imitation tobacco products.
Go noted that President Duterte himself has taken a public health stance on the issue.
Last year, the President issued Executive Order (EO) 106 which prohibits the manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of unregistered or adulterated electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products or HTP, and other novel tobacco products.
Under EO 106, access to electronic cigarettes and HTP has been restricted to persons over 21 years of age. The use of e-cigarettes and HTP has also been included in the nationwide smoking ban.
The senator also mentioned that the Congress has also taken a position on the matter when it passed the Sin Tax law for e-cigarettes. The law was sponsored by Senator Cayetano.
Citing data from the 2018 National Enhanced Nutrition Survey, Go said that the use of e-cigarette is prevalent among the youth.