House Deputy Speaker and Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta on Friday, Feb. 4 urged President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the proposed Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act or Vape Bill, stressing that the measure will help protect public health and put an end to the entry illegal vapor products.
However, in a press statement issued the same day, former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said it would be more advisable for the president to veto the controversial measure that would allow youths aged 18 years old to use the vape.
“Contrary to the fake news being spread by some doctors-turned-charlatans, we still do not have a comprehensive law that regulates vapor products on matters pertaining to manufacture, sale, advertising, packaging use, product standards and product registration, unlike cigarettes. Why would you oppose a bill that seeks to regulate a vice or so called ‘sin products’?” said Marcoleta, a senatorial candidate.
Marcoleta urged Duterte to ignore those opposing the legislative measure, stressing that the Vape bill will “make Filipinos stop smoking for good.” He noted that latest data of the World Health Organization indicate that there are around 16 million Filipinos smoking cigarettes and similar products.
On the other hand, close to 100,000 Filipinos die every year from smoking-related diseases.
“Most Filipinos including smokers want to see an end to the sale of cigarettes in the country because smoking kills. However, if we do not give an alternative to smokers who cannot stop smoking, then the deaths will continue,” he warned.
Marcoleta insisted that vaping presents the best option for Filipinos to quit smoking cigarette.
“This is our gift to the Filipino people towards a better health and well-being,” the House official said.
However, Cayetano questioned the claim that vape and e-cigarettes can wean smokers away from cigarettes.
He pointed out that there is just no logic for such argument to the fact that proponents have brought down the legalization of vaping for minors as young as 18.
"Ang problema, kung ayun lang ang argument, bakit y’ung edad na 21, ibinaba nila sa 18??” he asked.
"So ibig sabihin, tina-target ng mga kumpanyang na gusto tayong maadik sa sigarilyo at nicotine yung mga bata. New wave o generation ito ng mga nicotine users. (So that must mean, these companies want to get young people addicted to cigarettes and nicotine products. This is a new wave or generation of nicotine users.),” Cayetano stated.
"Ang responsibilidad naman talaga ng gobyerno is to do good and prevent evil. Basta may possibility ng addiction, mapa-alak man yan, sugal yan o sigarilyo, dapat nire-regulate yan ng gobyerno. (Government’s responsibility is to do good and prevent evil. As long as there's a possibility of addiction, whether that's alcohol, gambling or tobacco, it should be regulated by the government.),” the former House leader explained.
He also slammed a provision in the bill that seeks to transfer the regulation of vaporized nicotine products from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Cayetano warned that if the regulatory functions are moved to the DTI, the Philippines will become a laughing stock as other nations strengthen their regulations through their respective food and drugs administrations.