Sumasangayon ako sa mga pananaw ng mga health experts na ang Vape o electronic cigarettes ay makakasama sa mga kabataan.
Bakit ba naman binabaan pa ng mga mambabatas ang age of access sa vape cigarets mula 21 na ngayo’y 18. Sa ating K to 12 educational system, ito ay mga senior high school na pinapayagan nating magka access sa vape, na sa mga pagsusuri ng mga dalubhasa ay tulad lang ng tobacco cigarets sa nicotine content at dahil ito’y may iba’t ibang nakakaakit na flavors ay lalo ng maeenganyo ang kabataan magkaroon at humitit nito.
Ayon kay dating kalihim ng health na si Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, ang vape law na pinabayaan lamang ng current president, na si Marcos Jr. na mag lapse into law will bring vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products closer to more Filipinos, especially the youth.
Dr. Galvez Tan, isang trustee ng HealthJustice Philippines, a non-government organization, ay nagsabi na ang Vape Law “will peddle nicotine addiction to Filipinos and has only one predictable result – more kids will now go into vaping.”
“This unfortunate development in policy will eventually lead to devastating health effects, diseases, and even death, in practice,” ayon kay OIC ng Health Services Team ng DoH na si Beverly Ho nang siya’y tanungin sa kaniyang reaction sa Vape Bill that lapsed into law. The DOH issued a written response from Ho, ayun sa Business Mirror.
Nanawagan si Dr. Galvez Tan kay Pangulong Marcos Jr. na atasan ang DOH na pondohan ang programs and research that will closely “monitor the number of youth who will be lured into this new form of nicotine addiction including its impact to the health of users, Ho said, the DOH will “execute the laws of our land.”
“But with a renewed commitment to ensure that we protect our people from Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs), Electronic Delivery Nicotine Devices (ENDS) and other tobacco products and vapes,” Ho said adding that the DOH will tighten its grip where the law enables it to as it implements” existing tobacco prevention and control measures to protect the health of our kababayans.”
DOH assured the public that it will work closely with relevant authorities and partners in crafting the Vape Law’s implementing rules and regulations with the sworn duty to ensure that the threat of vapes, heated tobacco products, and other similar items of use will be monitored and regulated.
“Through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, we can continue safeguarding the health of every Juan and Juana,” wika ni Ho na siyang alternate spokesman ng DoH.
Sabi ni Dr. Galvez Tan na definitely ang Vape Law ay hindi magpapalakas sa health care system bagkus ide derail pa niya ang mga efforts laban sa COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have strongly opposed the vape bill when it was being deliberated in Congress as it lowers age of access from 21 years old to 18 and it allows more flavor that has been proven to attract the youth, ika niya.
Wika niya ang mga public health experts have joined the DOH and Department of Education to warn decision makers on the possible impact of this legislation on nicotine addiction among the youth.
Tinawag pa niyang devious propaganda ng industriya, na siyang pinairal over the warnings of public health community, against the vape law.
Ano mang indikasyon na inaakit ang mga kabataang Pilipino into vaping “we fervently hope that the President will swiftly and strongly support efforts to abrogate this anti-health law and replace it with science-based regulations presented by DOH, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and various medical societies.