PINANINIWALAANG milyong Pinoy smokers, kabilang na ang kabataang pinapayagang bumili ng sigarilyo, ang maisasalba ang buhay sa newly-enacted anti-smoking Vape Law.
“It is gift to the Filipino people towards better health and well-being,” pahayag ni dating Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, isa sa primary authors ng Vape Bill sa Congress.
“This anti-smoking Vape Law is a landmark public health measure that we should all be proud of. Ita our 1st comprehensive anti-smoking law is almost 20 years. Sa pamamagitan ng nasabing batas ay may pag-asa tayong wakasan ang smoking epidemic kung saan aabot sa 100K Pilipino smokers ang namamatay kada taon,” diin pa ni Marcoleta.
Sa Republic Act No. 1190 o ang Vaporized Nicotine and Non-nicotine Products Regulation Act ay nire-regulate ang importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use at communication ng vaping products tulad ng e-cigarettes at heated tobacco products (HTPs). Ito ay inilalarawang makasaysayang legislative public health measure ng iba’t ibang sectoral groups.
Isa sa naghain ng vape law sa Kongreso na si dating Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., ang nagsabing maiiwasang pagbilhan ng ganitong produkto ang mga menor de edad.
“The VNNP law does not allow minors access to e-cigarettes. In fact, it has strict provisions to protect them. The law equalizes the minimum age of access to cigarettes and vapes to ensure that all adult smokers are provided with better alternatives. We care for all smoker lives,” dagdag pa ni Garbin.
Sinabi naman ni dating Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto na nag-sponsor ng vape law sa Senado na, ‘it is good public policy to shift to vaporized nicotine products.”
“There will be less death and less expense on the part of society in treating patients. And that is the direction where many countries, more developed economies are moving toward,” pahayag pa ni Recto sa kanyang pakikipagdebate sa Senado.
Maging si Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie ‘Wes’ Gatchalian na nagsilbing Deputy Speaker sa 18th Congreas at co-sponsor ng batas ay nagsabing, “The Vape Law is a historic milestones in our fight laban sa paninigarilyo, who cannot quit smoking, a chance to have access to better alternatives.”
Sinabi pa ni Gatchalian, “at the same time, the Vape Law will protect our minors because they will be prohibited from buying these products and there are very stiff penalties for those who will be caught violating the prohibitions under the bill. Now that we have the Vape Law in place, it is time that our government agencies such as the DTI and FDA work together so we can bring down our counrey’s smoking rates.”
Magugunita na ang Vape Law ay inihain bilang House Bill No. 3330 sa 17th Congress ni late Congressman Rodel Batocate ng Ako Bicol Partylist noong Agoato 25, 2016.
Noong 18th Congress, umabot sa tatlong public hearing at pitong technical working group meetings ang isinagawa ng House Committee on Trade and Industry at Committee on Health.
Inaprubahan naman ng Kongreso ang House Bill (HB) 9007 na may 192 boto habang 34 ang hindi sumang-ayon at 4 ang nag-abstains sa 3rd at final reading noong May 25, 2021.
Sa Senado naman ay nagpasa ng Senate Bill (SB) 2239 kung saan nakakuha ng 19 boto, 2 hindi sumang-ayon at 2 abstentions noong Dec. 14, 2021.
Base sa provisions ng Section 27, paragraph (1), Article VI ng Constitution, ang VNNP Bill ay awtomatikong nag-laspe bilang batas noong Hulyo 25, 2022 na nai-transmit na sa Office of the President noong Hunyo 24, 2022.
Ito ay isa mga bill na naiwan ni outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte na hindi nalagdaan, kasama ang Agriculture Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing Enchancement Act; Creative Industries Charter of the Phils; at ang Permanent Validity ng Certificates of Live Birth, Death, at Marriage Act.