THE Department of Education yesterday urged President Duterte to veto the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act approved by the Senate on third and final reading last December 2021.
“As a government institution championing young Filipinos’ well-being, we are taking a stand against the so-called ‘anti-health’ vape bill, which will weaken existing law and the executive order against Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) or Electronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENNDS) commonly known as e-cigarettes or ‘vapes,’” the DepEd said in a statement.
It added that if passed into law, the proposed legislation will erode the important provisions set forth in Republic Act No. 11467 and Executive Order No. 106 signed by Duterte in 2020.
That law regulates electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems, heated tobacco products, and other novel tobacco items.
In particular, the proposed legislation will lower the access restriction age from 21–as currently set by RA 11467 and EO 106–to 18 years old.
The bill also permits online sales, and allows flavors other than plain tobacco and menthol, the only two flavors currently allowed by law.
To underscore the danger it poses to the youth, the DepEd said that for school year 2020-2021, at least 870,000 learners in the basic education sector were 18 years old, while close to 1.1 million learners in senior high school were 18 to 20 years old.
“This is the number of learners who will become legally allowed to be marketed the harmful products once the bill becomes law,” the DepEd said, adding that young people are vulnerable to engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse.
“If there will be any attempt to amend existing laws, it should be to increase the age of access to harmful products, not lower it,” the DepEd added.
