What You Need to Know About the Vaping Ban in the PH
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the ban on the use and importation of vapes, the tobacco-free electronic cigarettes that are widely being used as an alternative to smoking tobacco.
However, as of the writing of this article, the Palace has not issued an Executive Order (EO) implementing the ban.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a press conference at the Malacañan Palace on November 19, 2019/IMAGE Presidential Photo
The verbal statement from the President follows the country’s first case of vaping-related injury when a 16-year-old girl was hospitalized after vaping for half a year; she has since been released from the hospital.
“It’s being used by the youth of this country with gusto, not realizing the danger,” President Duterte told reporters.
Pangulo Rodrigo Duterte, inanunsyo ang pagba-ban ng importasyon ng vaping products pic.twitter.com/BJvOWgKjNJ
— DZMM TeleRadyo (@DZMMTeleRadyo) November 19, 2019
Currently, there are no government regulations for vapes. There is a pending tax increase in tobacco products and vapor products under Section 2 of Republic Act 11346. However, this has yet to be implemented in 2020 and is now facing the possibility of being revoked following the President’s ban.
“…the House Committee on Ways and Means will seek the repeal of Section 2 of Republic Act 11346 to implement the position of the President to ban vape and HTPs (heated tobacco products),” panel chairperson Joey Salceda of Albay told CNN Philippines.
Also read: Nationwide Smoking Ban to take effect on July 22
Even without an EO, the PNP acts to bring in any person caught vaping in public, confiscate their vaping paraphernalia, and list their names in a blotter before releasing them with a warning.
What is yet unclear is if this directive includes vaping in allowed smoking areas. So far, the PNP base their actions on EO 26, which is a ban on smoking in public spaces although the order does not explicitly include e-cigarettes.
Also read: BGC announces location of Temporary Smoking Areas
Biñan City Rep. Marlyn Alonte filed House Bill 5561 at the House of Representatives on November 20. This is the proposed Tobacco and Vaping Regulation Act, which proposes to include vaping in the same category as tobacco products and apply the same strict regulations.
Reports of suspected electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury cases may be sent to ecigarettesurveillance@doh.gov.ph
Sources: Department of Health PR, Official Gazette, Philippine News Agency, CNN Philippines
Image grabbed from Presidential Communications Operations Office
