House leaders over the weekend described the vape bill recently passed by both chambers of Congress as their parting “gift” to the Filipino people as they hailed the measure as the beginning of the end for cigarettes in the Philippines.
They said the vape bill, which drew widespread support from vapers and smokers, is the gift of Congress to the Filipino people to finally have an effective tool to bring down smoking rates and save lives.
House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta said smokers who are having a hard time quitting now have a better option that does not burn tobacco and is strictly regulated by the government.
“As seen in other countries, smoke-free alternatives significantly contributed to the drop in the number of smokers. This is our gift, our legacy to the Filipino people,” said Marcoleta.
“Years from now when our country is rid of the smoking menace, we will look back at this Congress for starting the journey towards a smoke-free Philippines,” said Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Estrellita Suansing, referring to the ‘game-changer’ vape bill.
The House and the Senate ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the vape bill brings it closer to becoming a law. The enrolled bill will be submitted for the signature of the President.
“Once signed into law, the government will be able to properly regulate the sale and use of these products and at the same time, provide a new revenue stream for our public coffers. Equally important, the penal provisions contained therein shall ensure that only adult smokers can purchase these products and that minors will not be given access to the same,” said Marcoleta.
About 23.8 percent or nearly a quarter of Filipino adults are using tobacco, or 41.9 percent of men and 5.8 percent of women in the country, according to the 2015 Global Adult Tobacco Survey.
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ace Barbers said this would help the 16 million Filipino smokers to access less harmful alternatives to cigarettes. Scientific studies found electronic cigarettes or vapes to be at least 95-percent less harmful than combusted tobacco.
Marcoleta defended the vape bill as a good piece of legislation. “I congratulate my colleagues in Congress for the passage and approval of House Bill No. 9007 and Senate Bill No. 2239. While not a smoker myself, I understand the importance of providing the adult smoking population with viable alternatives that are, as stated by the WHO [World Health Organization] representative in our hearings in the Lower House, less harmful when compared to cigarettes,” he said.
AKO Bicol Party List Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said the vape bill has strong provisions that protect minors. “The vape bill is serious in preventing minors from getting these products. It provides penalties that are even stronger than the penalties imposed for violations of the tobacco law. Erring parties can be fined or imprisoned,” said Garbin.
The Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines said that once enacted into law, the vape bill is expected to reduce smoking rate in the country. “It will provide Filipino smokers a way out of smoking through less harmful alternatives such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products,” said Anton Israel, president of NCUP.
“With the vaporized nicotine products regulated, the lives of 16 million Filipino smokers will be saved because legitimate alternative products will be allowed to be sold to smokers who want to stop smoking. The vape bill will also put an end to the sale of unregulated and illegal products that do not pay excise taxes to the government,” said Israel.
Joaqui Gallardo, spokesman of consumer group Vaper AKO, said that by enacting the vape bill, the Philippines will join the growing list of progressive countries that believe in providing less harmful alternatives to their smoker population who don’t want to stop smoking.
“Our country will join the ranks of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand and many other countries that believe in providing smokers with alternative products to save their lives. The experience of these countries will show that allowing alternative products has led to a significant drop in smoking rates with no effect at all on drug use or alcoholism,” said Gallardo.
The bill prohibits advertisements targeting minors and the use of vaporized nicotine products in schools, playgrounds, colleges, and universities.
It also restricts online sales and e-commerce platforms and prohibits the industry from contracting health professionals, celebrities, even social media influencers, to promote or encourage the use of these products.
The bill has mandatory product standards to protect adult users, keep them away from minors, help curb the smuggling of these products, and ensure that the right taxes are paid to the government, according to Barbers.
Under the bill, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is tasked to ensure that manufacturers and importers comply with mandatory standards and register their products with the department before introducing them in the market.
The DTI Secretary is authorized, upon due process, to order the recall, ban or seizure of unregistered products or to shut down non-compliant websites. The DTI and the Food and Drug Administration will release mandatory product standards. Graphic health warnings will be imposed on the product packaging.
The bill is also expected to prevent the illicit trade of these products and raise additional taxes for the government’s Universal Health Care program.