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PRRD praised for banning use, importation of vapes
E-CIG BAN IS PRO-HEALTH. Philippine Pediatric Society-Tobacco Control Advocacy Group chairperson Rizalina Raquel Gonzalez on Wednesday (Nov. 20, 2019) lauds President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to ban the use and importation of vaping devices in the country.
The health department on Nov. 15 announced the first vape-related lung injury case in the country that involved a minor. (Contributed photo from Probe Media Foundation, Inc. via PNA)
MANILA — A health practitioner who has been campaigning against the ill effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on Wednesday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to prohibit “the use and importation” of vaping devices or e-cigarettes in the country.
In an interview, Philippine Pediatric Society-Tobacco Control Advocacy Group chairperson Rizalina Raquel Gonzalez thinks President Rodrigo Duterte is “alarmed over the electronic cigarette or vape-associated lung injury (EVALI) case and the increasing prevalence of use of e-cigs by minors”.
“Being a smoker and feeling all the bad effects on him, knowing the path of e-cigs as a gateway to smoking, he wants to be pro-health ASAP (as soon as possible),” Gonzales said.
Gateway to smoking tobacco
The Department of Health (DOH) has noted there are a million Filipino e-cigarette users, with the product easily gaining popularity as it was marketed as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco.
However, using these so-called replacements, Gonzales said, may actually lead to wanting to smoke tobacco in the future.
“E-cigarette use for non-smoking minors is four times at risk to try and engage in tobacco cigarette use. It is a proven gateway to smoking tobacco or they become dual users,” Gonzales said.
