The vape law will save the lives of millions of Filipino smokers, including young adults who are legally allowed to buy cigarettes, according to the law’s proponents.
“It is a gift to the Filipino people towards better health and well-being,” said former House deputy speaker Rodante Marcoleta, who was one of the vape law’s primary authors at the House of Representatives.
“This anti-smoking vape law is a landmark public health measure that we should all be proud of. It’s our first comprehensive anti-smoking law in almost 20 years. With this law, we have a very good chance to eradicate the smoking epidemic, which kills almost 100,000 Filipino smokers every year, once and for all. It will be just a matter of time before we see our country’s smoking rate go down,” Marcoleta said.
Republic Act No. 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-nicotine Products Regulation Act regulates the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use and communication of vaping products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs).
Former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin, Jr., another author of the vape law, said the measure will prevent minors from having access to these vape products because “the VNNP law does not allow minors access to e-cigarettes. In fact, it has strict provisions to protect them. The law equalizes the minimum age of access to cigarettes and vapes to ensure that all adult smokers are provided with better alternatives. We care for all smokers’ lives.”
“If legally an 18 year-old is allowed to buy cigarettes, then he should be allowed to have a better choice,” he added.
Former Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, during the Senate plenary discussions on the measure, said it is “good public policy” to shift to vaporized nicotine products.
“There will be less death and less expense on the part of society in treating patients. And that is the direction where many countries, more developed economies are moving toward,” said Recto, a sponsor of the bill in the Senate.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian who served as deputy speaker during the 18th Congress and co-sponsor of the measure said: “The vape law is a historic milestone in our fight against smoking as it will give our 16 million Filipino smokers, who cannot quit smoking, a chance to have access to better alternatives.”
“At the same time, the vape law will protect our minors because they will be prohibited from buying these products and there are very stiff penalties for those who will be caught violating the prohibitions under the bill. Now that we have the vape law in place, it is time that our government agencies such as the DTI and FDA work together so we can bring down our country’s smoking rates,” he said.
