Lawmakers urged to review vape law

HEALTH advocates led by the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement (PSFM) have called on lawmakers to review the Vape Regulation Law, citing the first case of vape-related death.

PSFM national coordinator Rizal Duro, in a forum held on Monday at the Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City, cited a recent report from the Department of Health about the case of e-cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury (Evali) death involving a 22-year-old athlete.

«The athlete was said to be physically healthy and had no comorbidities, but was using vape every day for straight two years,» Duro said.

Citing government data, Duro lamented that the number of youth addicted to vaping has increased dramatically as vape shops continue to mushroom in many areas of the country.

«The recent Global Youth Tobacco survey showed that one out of eight children ages 13 to 15 is already smoking cigarettes while one out of seven kid-smokers prefers vape,» she added.

Ma. Aurora Quilala, the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) deputy executive director, said that the same data were only an indication of the failure «of our society and the country as a whole» in fully protecting the interest of the youth, especially their health.

Quilala and Duro sought an immediate review of Republic Act 11900 (Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation) as they sought the return of the age restriction to 21 years old for selling and using electronic cigarettes.