On Thursday, 67 civil society organizations urged President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the Vape Bill, the bicameral bill of Senate Bill No. 2239 and House Bill No. 9007, in its entirety.
“The bill contradicts the supposed intention of protecting the Filipino youth from addiction. Passing this bill is an utter disservice to the health, welfare and well-being of your constituents. It is anti-youth, anti-health, and pro-addiction,” the groups said in a letter sent to Malacañang.
The letter’s signatories included barangay health workers, sectoral organizations, urban poor communities, and health advocacy groups.
The vape bill, which was passed on third and final reading in the Senate on December 16, 2021, contains several provisions that loosen restrictions on the use of vape and heated tobacco products.
It lowers the age limit of access to e-cigarettes and vapes from 21 to 18 years old; transfers regulatory jurisdiction from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); and allows multiple flavors, which target and attract the youth.
Expanding access to vapes would endanger the youth, they noted. The 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey showed that 1 in 7 Filipino students aged 13 to 15 are e-cigarette users. The groups argued that strict regulation is needed to prevent the epidemic of vaping-related lung injuries in other countries from gaining a foothold in the Philippines.
Citing President Duterte’s strong stance against substance abuse and addiction, the groups called on the President to fulfill his campaign promise and leave a legacy of protecting public health by vetoing the bill. The Vape Bill, they said, directly goes against the President’s previous pronouncements and policy directives on the dangers of vaping.
In 2020, President Duterte signed EO 106, which bans the manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of unregistered e-cigarette products and expanded the ban on cigarette smoking in enclosed public areas to include vapes. He also signed Republic Act No. 11346, which regulates novel tobacco products.
CSO participants in the call to veto the vape bill:
Action for Economic Reforms
Action on Smoking and Health Philippines
ADOHRE Assn of DOH Retired Employees, Inc
Aktibong Nakatatanda sa Commonwealth QC (AKNACOM)
Aktibong Kilusan Tungo sa Iisang Bayan (AKTIB Philippines)
Aktibong Kilusan ng mga Maralitang Mamamayan
AKTIB Youth Malinta
AKTIB-Pateros
Balay Mindanaw
Barangay Health Workers Brgy. 105 Tondo
Barangay Health Workers, Brgy 28 Caloocan
Barangay Health Workers, Brgy San Joaquin Pasig City
Barangay Health Workers Brgy Tabacalera, Pateros MM
Batasan Neighborhood
Bicycle Friendly Philippines
Cabrera People’s Unity Pasay City
Cancer Warriors Foundation
Cares for the Children, Binondo, Manila
Care for the Street Children
Center for the Empowerment and Development of Elderly and Seniors
Childreamers Inc.
Child Rights Network
Citizen’s Budget Tracker
Commonwealth East Neighborhood Alliance Quezon City
CONFEDERATION OF OLDER PERSONS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES (COPAP)
DAYAP Homeowners Association, Calauan, Laguna
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines
HealthJustice
Healthy Philippines Alliance
ImagineLaw
IMAP Inc.
Kara Alikpala of ICanServe
Kilusan ng mga Komunidad Para sa Smoke-Free na Kapaligiran (KKK)
LIKAS
Lingap Para Sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan
LINKS FOR INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY
MAMAS BRIGADE ASSOCIATION, INC (MBA)
Maypajo Urban Poor Association, Caloocan City
Nagkakaisang Grupo ng Mamamayan sa Sitio Aroma, Tondo, Manila
NAPC-Senior Citizens Sectoral Council
Parents Coordinated Actions –Baseco
Parola Tondo Association
Patient Association of the Philippines (PAPO)
Payatas Community Based Alliance
Philippine Health Council
Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD)
Pinyahan Network of Informal Sectors
Psoriasis Philippines
Psychosocial Disability-Inclusive Philippines
Philippine Alliance of Persons with Chronic Illness (PAPCI)
Project ACCESS
PUP SPEAK
Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Villa Bernardo
Samahang Mamamayan ng mga Taga Norte, Brgy.372, Sta Cruz Manila
Samahan ng Magkakapitbahay sa J.De Moriones St.,(Binondo, Manila)
Samahan ng mga Mamamayan sa Baseco Port Area Manila
SideCar Boys Club
Social Watch Philippines
Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance
Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth Philippines
SWP-ABI Health Cluster
Teatro Mulat
Ugnayan ng mga Kabataan sa BASECO, Port Area, Manila
Ugnayan ng mga Mamamayan sa Almanza Dos, Las Pinas
WAND Women Organization, Inc.
WomanHealth Philippines
YES-O (Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (Pateros National High School)
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