President Rodrigo Duterte warned the judiciary beforehand not to foil the state’s move in regulating the use and business of electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) in the country through restraining orders. Said governmental action particularly involves vaping in public places. “Do not interfere in this. Judges, I warn you: do not issue restraining order to the customs, to the coast guard. I will not obey your order. I do not want anybody in the Philippines vaping. The order, executive order, never mind. It will come,” told the Chief Executive.
The Head of State opined the immediate necessity of the program considering the deleterious consequences of vaping. Historically, the presidential order came after the first lung injury attributed to vaping was reported. “There are chemicals that are added to nicotine, which we do not know, and I am not about ready to allow the young people of the Philippines to get sick and to die,” the State Lead elucidated.
The President, despite his hard-line stance against E-cigar use, mentioned that the object may be used at home; however, one must consider other individuals residing in the same abode.
Senator Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, recognized the imperious necessity of the measure. “No issue can be resolved,” Cayetano averred, “if members of the industry would insist on shunning any form of regulation by constantly suing the DOH and FDA! With this attitude, a ban is really in order.” She added that while she awaits the President’s executive order on the matter, she will push Senate Bill No. 1074 (An An Increasing the Excise Tax on Alcohol Products, Heated Tobacco Products, and Vapor Products, Amending for This Purpose Sections 141, 142, 143, 144, 147, 150, and 288, of Republic Act No. 8424, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as Amended, and for Other Purposes) which seeks to increase the levied tax on E-cigarettes.
