Tobacco farmers’ organizations appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the Vape Bill into law, saying that the proposed measure, which was overwhelmingly approved by Senate ang House of Representatives, will give new hope for their livelihood.
The National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Associations and Cooperatives (NAFTAC) and the Philippine Tobacco Growers Association, Inc. (PTGA) with more than 45,000 farmer members combined wrote a separate letter to President Duterte to express their support to the passage of the Vape Bill and to apprise the President about its purpose and importance on their source of living.
“Kami ay umaasa na maipasa at maging ganap na batas na ito para mabigyang proteksyon ang aming kabuhayan at magkaroon ng isa pang produkto ng tabako na katanggap-tanggap at mas mababang epekto sa kalusugan kumpara sa tradisyunal na sigarilyo,” NAFTAC said in its January 22, 2022 letter signed by Bernard Vicente, the group’s president.
(We are hoping that the Vape Bill will be passed into law to give protection to our livelihood and to provide a more acceptable tobacco product which has less harmful effect to health than traditional cigarettes.) “Naniniwala kami na magbibigay din ito ng pagkakataon upang kaming mga magsasaka ay maging bahagi ng makabagong mga produktong ito na ang pangunahing sangkap ay nagmula pa rin sa tabako,” PTGA President Saturnino Distor, said in the letter of his group sent to President Duterte on January 13, 2022.
(We believe that the Vape Bill will give an opportunity for us farmers to be a part of new products, which primary ingredient is from tobacco.) The vape bill is a reconciled version of Senate Bill No. 2239 or the “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act” and House Bill No. 9007 or the “Non-Combustible Nicotine Delivery Systems Regulation Act,” which was overwhelmingly approved by both chambers. The versions were consolidated by a bicameral conference committee and will be transmitted to the President for his signature.
There is a growing global consensus among medical and scientific experts that vapes and heated tobacco products are far less harmful than cigarettes. Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany and Switzerland have established a regulatory framework to regulate these products to convince smokers to stop smoking.
Among the important provisions of the Vape Bill are the ban of sale to and marketing initiatives targeting or appealing to minors, and the hefty fines and imprisonment on violators. It prohibits the sale, advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes and HTPs within 100 meters from any school, playground or other facilities frequented by minors. It also bans flavor descriptors that may appeal to minors.
The bill has given shared responsibilities to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Food and Drug Administration in regulating the VNPs. The FDA has jurisdiction over products with “reduced risk” and any medical claims.
NAFTAC said the bill will give new hope for tobacco farmers to alleviate the lives of their family, while noting the negative impact of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the Covid-19 pandemic to their primary source of income.
Distor said most of the vaporized nicotine products (VNPs), like vapes and heated tobacco products, are imported and the farmers from other countries are the ones benefitting from this setup. He said proper regulation will be beneficial for farmers as the industry is expected to grow in the coming years.
"Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa ipinasang Vape Bill ng Kongreso kung saan nakasaad dito na hinihikayat ang mga industriya na gumamit ng lokal na tabako. Makakatulong ito ng malaki sa aming mga magsasaka na umaasa sa tabako lalo ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” Distor said.
(We are thankful for the approved Vape Bill of Congress, which provides that industries are encouraged to use local tobacco. This will hugely help farmers who depends on tobacco particularly now in the time of pandemic.) He expressed that they want to be a part of the potential help that VNPs will bring to farmers not only with local demand but also for possible export.
“Kaya po aming mahal na Pangulo kami po’y nakikiusap, at alam din namin na kayo’y nakikinig sa aming mga mahihirap na sana po tulungan ninyo kami, bigyan nyo po kami ng pagkakataong maging ganap na batas ang Vape Bill para po magkaroon ng seguridad ang kabuhayan ng mga katulad kong magsasaka ng tabako sa Pilipinas,” Vicente said.
(That’s why, our beloved President, we are pleading, and we know that you are listening to us who are marginalized, that hopefully you will help us. Give the Vape Bill a chance to become a complete law to ensure the security of livelihood for tobacco farmers like me in the Philippines.)