Authorities have banned vaping or the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in all venues of the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, including foreign spectators and participants.
National Capital Regional Police Office chief Police Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said that those caught using e-cigarettes within the SEA Games venues would be arrested, recorded on police blotters, and then released afterward. The devices would also be confiscated.
Sinas clarified that mere possession is not illegal, but they would be barring them from entering SEA Games venues.
The SEA Games—composed of 530 events in 56 sports—will be held across at least 44 venues. The police estimate that nearly 10,000 tourists and spectators would flock to the venues.
President Duterte issued a verbal order on Tuesday night banning the use and importation of e-cigarettes in the country.
‘Ban to worsen smoking’
On Wednesday, Mr. Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police to arrest people using e-cigarettes in public places, while warning judges against issuing injunctions against his order, which he said was to protect public health and safety.
However, groups representing vape users claimed that such a policy would force them to go back to smoking conventional cigarettes.
“A ban on vaping will only worsen the smoking situation in the Philippines… [I]t is as if the President is encouraging vapers to go back to smoking, which is ironic,” the Coalition of Asia-Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates claimed in a statement.
Following the President’s directive, Sen. Francis Tolentino has filed Senate Bill No. 1183, prohibiting the sale, production, distribution and importation of e-cigarettes and similar devices nationwide due to health concerns.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, on the other hand, said he would file a similar bill that would only regulate and not totally ban vaping devices.
Earlier, the World Health Organization maintained that there is still no proof that e-cigarettes can really help one quit tobacco smoking.
‘No convincing evidence’
It found, however, that those who exposed themselves to e-cigarettes ended up as dual users, which means that they simultaneously used them with traditional cigarettes.
Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo pointed out that “there is no convincing evidence” that would show e-cigarettes, or vapes, could really help individuals quit smoking.
“If we really want to stop smoking, the solution is not to shift to another product which presents a different set of illnesses,” Domingo said.