Press Release
November 17, 2019

SEN BONG GO's STATEMENT

RE: Vaping/e-Cigarette Smoking

Nababahala ako matapos mabalita ang unang posibleng kaso ng E-Cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) sa bansa dahil sa nangyari sa isang minor de edad sa Central Visayas. Bagamat pinagaaralan pa ito ng DOH at considered "probable cause" pa lang ang vaping, I echo Sec Duque's advice for users to refrain from using vapes or e-cigarettes as the knowledge on the products is still limited.

Klaruhin ko lang po para sa kaalaman ng publiko na ang vaping ay posibleng makasama sa kalusugan, lalo na kapag minor de edad ang gumagamit. Kahit po sabihin na less harmful iyan sa normal na paninigarilyo, may posibilidad na harmful pa rin po iyan sa kalusugan at nakakabahala rin ang epekto nito sa katabi o kasama ng gumagamit.

Ang kalusugan ay tanging puhunan natin para sa magandang kinabukasan, kung kaya't tulad ng posisyon ng ating mahal na Presidente, we oppose the unregulated use of these products and how it is easily accessed by minors.

Bibigyan natin ng importansya ang kapakanan ng kabataan at karapatan ng katabi o kasamahan na apektado na mabuhay ng matiwasay at malusog. Hinihikayat ko kayo na iwasan ang paggamit ng ganitong produkto dahil ang ganitong uri ng bisyo ay sanhi ng adiksyon at posibleng makakaapekto sa katabi o kapwa tao.

Kailangang magkaroon ng mas mahigpit na regulasyon ang ating otoridad na may kaugnayan sa produksyon, distribusyon at paggamit ng lahat ng uri ng e-cigarettes.

To update everyone on what the government is doing to regulate these products, mayroong DOH Administrative Order 2019-0007, entitled "Revised Rules and Regulations on Electronic Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Delivery System", subalit ito naman ay nahinto sa pamamagitan ng TRO ng isang korte sa Pasig dahil sa reklamo ng mga kumpanyang apektado nito.

Sa kabila ng pagka-TRO ng AO NO. 2019-0007 ng DOH at habang walang pang panukalang batas na naipapasa sa Kongreso, I will recommend to President Duterte to issue an executive order regulating the manufacturing, distribution, sale and use of all types of e-cigarettes.

Smoking, in all forms and manner, is a public health issue and it adversely affects almost everyone around a smoker, even those who do not smoke at all. It poses serious health risks. And anyone admitted for smoking-related illnesses, particularly those with limited financial capacity, also puts pressure on government resources to be spent for their health and wellness.

As the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, it is my duty to ensure that necessary health services as well as information and regulations on health concerns are easily accessible to protect our people. This is one of our priorities in the Senate and I will not hesitate to sponsor such measure that would require a law to regulate e-cigarettes in the country.

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