THE DEPARTMENT of Education urged President Rodrigo 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 or Electronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems commonly known as e-cigarettes or vapes,” the agency said in a statement.

It said that if passed into law, the bill will erode the important provisions of Republic Act 11467 and Executive Order No. 106 both signed by the President in 2020. The law and the executive order already regulate electronic nicotine/non-nicotine delivery systems, heated tobacco products, and other novel tobacco items.

The vape bill will lower the access restriction age from 21 to 18.

“We teach in schools how the part of the brain that is responsible for rational decisions does not fully develop until one is in their mid-twenties. Before that age, young people are very vulnerable to engaging in risky behaviors such as substance use and 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 department said.

The bill also permits online sales, and allows flavors other than plain tobacco and menthol, the only two flavors currently allowed by law.

The World Health Organization has said that “ENDS are undoubtedly harmful,” and that flavors appealing to children and advertising through social media platforms are among the tactics employed by tobacco and related industries to attract the youth.

“This is of great concern for us in DepEd. A study conducted by the Philippine Pediatric Society among our Grades 7-9 DepEd learners revealed that 6.7 percent “have tried and are using e-cigarettes,” and that the top reasons for vape use among our learners were online accessibility (32 percent), varied flavors (22 percent), and the belief that e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco (17 percent),” the department said.

“As we continue to implement a comprehensive tobacco control program in schools to safeguard the health of learners, DepEd is hopeful that our leaders and legislators will constantly champion a healthy lifestyle among our youth,” it added.