DOH: Vape not a good alternative as gov’t eyes higher sin taxes 

SAFER ALTERNATIVE? Not for tobacco control advocates who maintain that e-cigarettes emit toxic chemicals. INQUIRER file photo / RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public that the use of e-cigarette or vape is not a good “health alternative” following the move of Congress to increase excise taxes on tobacco.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said e-cigarettes, like cigarettes, contain nicotine that is highly addictive.

“Some people are trying to package it as a health alternative to tobacco or as a lower risk product compared to tobacco,” Domingo said in a Palace briefing.

“Vape contains nicotine and is addicting,” he added, as he expressed alarm over the prevalant use of vape among teenagers.

The health official reiterated that the DOH wanted to regulate vape.

The use of e-cigarette, also know as vaping, is the use of device containing liquid to replace smoking.

“We have pending legislation. In fact, the House of Representatives and the Senate is conducting hearings to regulate it,” Domingo said.

“On the part of the Department of Health, we do not advocate po the use of vaping and we want to strictly regulate it,” he added.

Food and Drug Administration Director General Nela Charade Puno said they have no actual count of how many vape stores are there in the country.

“Sa ngayon po kasi wala pang nagrerehistro sa FDA. Naglabas po ang FDA ng panukala diyan para magrehistro ang mga vape manufacturers pero wala pa. So hinihintay po talaga natin ‘yung batas kung paano ang registration tsaka regulation nila,” Puno told reporters in a Palace briefing.

“Sa ngayon po kasi walang batas that will allow us to regulate and close them down kaya po we are working vert very closely with Congress and Senate  para magkaroon tayo ng regulatory framework for the vape industry,” she added. /jpv