SEVERAL health professional organizations and medical societies yesterday called on outgoing President Duterte to veto the “Vape Bill” to serve as his “final act for public health.”
In a virtual press conference, medical groups led by the Philippine Medical Association strongly asked Duterte to thumb down the measure that is seen to relax existing regulations on vape products.
“We strongly urge President Duterte to veto the Vape Bill in its entirety once transmitted to his office. Vetoing the bill in the final stretch of his term will preserve his legacy of fighting addiction,” a joint statement read by PMA President Dr Minerva Calimag said.
“We urgently call on Duterte to veto the Vape Bill and protect the Filipino people,” she added.
The groups said they are against the measure as it strips the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its regulatory powers on vape products. They also reject the lowering of the age limit of access to vape products from 21 to 18 years old.
“This is in sharp contrast to the position of a handful of doctors supporting the bill, which is purportedly a regulatory measure,” said Calimag.
The health groups also questioned the secrecy over the status of the measure after it was ratified by a Congressional bicameral conference committee on January 25, 2022.
“A delay in the transmittal of the Vape Bill may deprive the President of his constitutionally-mandated function of review, approval, and/or veto of any bill before it becomes a law,” said Calimag.
Among the medical organizations joining the call were the Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Pediatric Society, Private Hospital Association, Philippine Ambulatory Pediatric Association, Philippine Neurological Association, Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians, Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, Philippine College of Chest Physicians, and Philippine Society of Nephrology, among others.
DUQUE ‘CONCERNED’
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he is also concerned over the status of the “Vape Bill” and the possibility of it lapsing into a law.
In an online media forum, Duque said he is closely coordinating, with concerned government agencies, the controversial bill.
“I am concerned with this Vape Bill because our end goal is that it will not be enacted into law,” said Duque.
He, however, expressed confidence that Duterte will not approve the measure, saying: “I doubt that the President will even sign that law, that vaping law. We leave it at that.”
