DOH urged: Act on e-cigarette smoking

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board of Cebu requested the Department of Health to expand its measures against the dangerous effects on the increasing popularity of electronics cigarette (e-cigarette) usage. The board resolution sponsored by Board Member Thadeo Ouano was approved last Monday. Electronic cigarette, also known as an e-cigarette, personal vaporizer PV is an electronic inhaler that vaporizes a liquid solution into an aerosol mist, simulating the act of tobacco smoking. Ouano cited report which said that e-cigarettes have gained an increasing rapid popularity among Filipinos as higher tobacco taxes make smoking more expensive and its availability are made accessible even in the side walk stalls. E-cigarette is considered among the smokers as a better, safe and less hazardous tobacco alternative but however the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) frowned on the claim and does not consider it in anyway a legitimate therapy to kick the habit. “It is opposed to the goal to stop cigarette smoking and tobacco use,” Ouano said. The FDA earlier warned the public against e-cigarettes saying, it cannot be considered legitimate therapy for smokers to quit and that it could turn children into smokers. The FDA stressed that the use of e-cigarettes is contrary to the intent and provisions of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, or Republic Act No. 9211, aimed at protecting the youth from nicotine addiction and chronic respiratory diseases, including cancer, among the deadly effects of smoking. FDA official said that wittingly or unwittingly, the electronic cigarette promotes smoking among children and the youth. It makes them less fearful of the hazards and risks of smoking. Contrary to what some marketers of e-cigarettes convey in their advertisements, the World Health Organization does not consider e-cigarettes legitimate therapy to help smokers kick the habit. A copy of Ouano’s resolution will be furnished to the regional offices of DOH and FDA in Central Visayas.