With nine out of 10 Filipino smokers believing that the government should enact laws to encourage them to switch to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, Senators who voted to pass the so-called vape bill believe the measure can actually save the lives of smokers and end the smoking epidemic in the country.
A recent study conducted by ACORN Marketing & Research Consultants found that 94 percent of 2,000 Filipino respondents agree that the government should enact policies to encourage adult smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, while also ensuring these products are not used by minors.
The survey also found that 90 percent of the respondents believe that the government should come up with new ways to reduce the harm caused by smoking cigarettes.
On December 16, 2021, 19 senators voted in favor of passing, two against, and two abstained of SB 2239, or the proposed Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, nearly seven months after the House of Representatives approved its own version—House Bill No. 9007 on May 25, 2021. The two bills are expected to be reconciled by a bicameral conference committee this month. The unified bill will then be ratified by the two chambers and submitted to the President for his signature.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, the main sponsor of SB 2239, said, "It is good public policy for people smoking to shift to these types of products” as “there will be less death and less expense on the part of society in treating patients.” Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he voted in favor of SB 2239 because he personally witnessed how heated tobacco enabled his brother to quit smoking. “I have a personal reason for voting yes. My brother was a heavy smoker for 45 years. When he switched to heated tobacco, he has stopped completely smoking and is very healthy,” he said.
“If vaporized nicotine products can help millions quit cigarette smoking, then I am willing to give it a chance,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said, expressing hope for smoking to end in the country.
Senator Sonny Angara expressed hope that smoking addiction will be mitigated by a switch to vaporized or vaping products. “There is anecdotal evidence to that effect from many personal colleagues, even from one of our colleagues. And I share the hope of our minority leader that we can eradicate the addiction to cigarette smoking because the health benefits are non-existent or definitely negative. In the hope that there is a better future for cigarette smokers and non-cigarette smokers out there, that’s why I vote for this bill,” Angara said.
In voting yes, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said, “I don’t like the fact that some doctors texted me and vilified me. Ang kalaban natin dito sigarilyo, ang kalaban natin dito tobacco sold in cigarette packs, ’yan ang kaaway natin Mr. President. We’re trying to look for alternatives for them. There’s an alternative, until they finally get off these gadgets, let’s give them an alternative to a better life.” For his part, Senator Richard Gordon noted that maturity requires that people learn to make decisions by themselves, stressing that the important thing is proper information is given to the people. “I voted yes, simply because we want something like a withdrawal plan. There is no justification for smoking, and the only justification is free will. On the other hand, I have a lot of friends who have switched to vaping. And vaping is a soft landing for them,” he said.
Once enacted into law, the Vape Bill is expected to reduce the smoking rate in the Philippines and provide 17 million Filipino smokers a way out of smoking through less harmful, smoke-free alternatives such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Both versions of the bill have strong provisions that ensure minors will not have access to non-combustible alternatives with the same age restriction imposed on cigarettes.
It acknowledges the jurisdiction of the Department of Trade and Industry, as the national standards body, over vaporized nicotine products.
Meanwhile, HB 9007, the version approved by the House of Representatives, declares as a policy of the State “to consider harm reduction measures as public health strategy by ensuring that non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes are properly regulated.” About a million former Filipino smokers have already switched to novel smoke-free products such as electronic cigarettes and HTPs which, according to several scientific studies, are less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Studies show that it is the smoke from combustion that releases harmful substances to the body, and not nicotine, which is a food-grade substance.
The vape bill promotes a balanced policy toward the proper regulation of novel consumer products, using internationally-accepted product standards to protect citizens from the hazards of unregulated and substandard vapor and heated tobacco products being sold in the market.
Results of the ACORN survey confirm the wide public support for tobacco harm reduction, or the public health strategy that supports the use of less harmful alternatives to combustible cigarettes such as e-cigarettes, HTPs and other smoke-free products.
"Majority have positive perception, would consider to switch to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and would like to have greater access to accurate information about these products," the ACORN study said.
About 70 percent of the respondents believe that e-cigarettes and HTPs are better alternatives to cigarettes, and 88 percent of adult smokers would consider switching to smoke-free alternative products, according to the survey.