The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed concerns on the health of at least two million students in basic education if the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act or “vape bill” will be passed into law.
DepEd, in a statement issued on Thursday, March 17, said that for School Year (SY) 2020-2021, at least 870,000 learners in the basic education sector were 18 years old.
The DepEd’s information system also showed that close to 1.1 million learners in Senior High School (SHS) were 18 to 20 years old.
“This is the number of learners who will become legally allowed to be marketed the harmful products once the bill becomes law,” DepEd said.
In particular, DepEd expressed concern that the vape bill will lower the access restriction age from 21 to 18 years old.
“We teach in schools how the part of the brain that is responsible for rational decisions does not fully develop until one is in their mid-twenties,” DepEd said.
“Before that age, young people are very vulnerable to engaging in risky behaviors such as substance use and abuse,” the agency added.
As stated in Republic Act No. 11467 and Executive Order No. 106 both signed by President Duterte in 2020, the access to electronic nicotine/non-nicotine delivery systems, heated tobacco products, and other novel tobacco items is currently set at 21 years old.
“If there will be any attempt to amend existing laws, it should be to increase the age of access to harmful products, not lower it,” DepEd stressed.
DepEd also pointed out that learners might have easier access to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) or Electronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENNDS) commonly known as e-cigarettes or “vapes” since the bill also permits online sales, and allows flavors other than plain tobacco and menthol --- the only two flavors currently allowed by law.
‘Harmful products’
Furthermore, DepEd also noted that the bill is positioned to “reduce the harm caused by smoking.”
This, DepEd said, is “in contrast” to the declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO) that “ENDS are undoubtedly harmful.”
With flavors appealing to children and advertising through social media platforms being among the tactics employed by tobacco and related industries to attract younger generations, DepEd said that this is “of great concern” for them.
Citing a study conducted by the Philippine Pediatric Society among Grades 7 to 9 DepEd learners showed that 6.7 percent “have tried and are using e-cigarettes.”
In the same study, it was revealed that the top reasons for vape use among learners were online accessibility at 32 percent; varied flavors at 22 percent; and the belief that e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco at 17 percent.
DepEd also noted that the bill also transfers the regulation of the products from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“We believe that the FDA is in the best position to regulate the harmful products, consistent with evolving medical and scientific studies, as currently expressed in RA 11467,” DepEd added.
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