Allowing the Legislature to disregard the clear mandate of the (public records law) would undermine the integrity of the legislative process and discourage transparency, which contradicts the purpose of both the immunity doctrine and the (law) –acting presiding Arizona Supreme Court Judge Maria Elena Cruz

Everybody or at least most people feeling down because of the incessant rain and cold weather, the pesky pandemic, and the serial lockdowns would be happy to be there.

A safe, warm fireplace, that is — not a burning, crumbling house.

Shown the exit door, they’d waste no time and head out of a smoldering shack. Just be out of there, pronto.

They’d even desperately crawl into exhaust shafts just to get out because they don’t want to be fried to a crisp.

No one simply wants to be quarantined in a place where he or she — and everyone else in the LGBTQ+ spectrum– is not allowed to make choices.

So, chrish — and fight for — freedom of choice.

But while certain rights and freedoms are guaranteed, others need to be asserted, demanded because of a hesitant, suspicious state or its viciously paranoid agents and enforcers.

Get this: Nine of 10 Filipino smokers believe that the government should pass laws to encourage them to switch to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, according to a survey recently conducted by an Asian research network.

The study, conducted by ACORN Marketing & Research Consultants and commissioned by consumer advocacy group Vapers PH, reveals that 94 percent of 2,000 respondents agree that the government should enact policies to encourage adult smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, while also ensuring these products are not used by the youth or those below 18 years.

Results of the survey showed that 90 percent of respondents believe that the government should come up with new ways to reduce the harm caused by cigarette smoking.

“The results of this survey come at a crucial time when the Senate is deliberating on the Vaporized Nicotine Products Bill. We hope that our senators will listen to the voice of Filipino smokers and vapers when we call on them to pass the VNP bill to encourage smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes,” said Peter Paul Dator, president of Vapers PH,

The Senate is deliberating on Bill 2239, or the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, which seeks to empower the government to regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use and consumption of vapor (electronic cigarettes) and heated tobacco products.

About a million former Filipino smokers have already switched to novel smoke-free products such as e-cigs and HTPs which, according to several scientific studies, are less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Studies showed that it is the smoke from combustion that releases harmful substances to the body, and not nicotine, a food-grade substance.

SB 2239 seeks to promote “a balanced policy toward the proper regulation of novel consumer products, using internationally-accepted product standards to protect citizens from the hazards of unregulated and substandard vapor and heated tobacco products” being sold in the market.

The House of Representatives earlier approved its own version of the measure—Bill 007 or the “Non-Combustible Nicotine Delivery Systems Regulation Act” — which seeks to reflect a public health strategy based on the principle of tobacco harm reduction.

Results of the ACORN survey confirmed the wide public support for tobacco harm reduction, the public health strategy that supports the use of less harmful alternatives to combustible tobacco.

“Majority (who) have positive perception would consider (switching) to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and would like to have greater access to accurate information about these products,” the ACORN study said.

About 70 percent of respondents believe that e-cigs and HTPs are better alternatives, and 88 percent of adult smokers would consider switching to smoke-free products, according to the survey.

It said 92 percent want greater access to health-related information backed up by scientific evidence while 94 percent believe that these smoke-free alternatives should have health warnings accurately identifying and describing the risks.

The study said a majority of respondents would like to find out more about smoke-free products, with 72 percent in favoring health warnings on products different from cigarette packs and 66 percent supporting product promotions in shops and kiosks.

About 58 percent of respondents said information should be in posters and product placement in shops and kiosks, 52 percent agree that such data should be included in age-restricted websites and mobile applications, and 52 percent support print advertisements in publications with an adult-only readership.

About 82 percent of the respondents said trial should be available at shops and kiosks, not only in pharmacies; 81 percent said purchase should be also available there; and 79 percent believe that the use of these products should be allowed in regulated vaping areas and open-air public places.

About 71 percent of them said they should be allowed to be sold online in age-restricted websites.

About 91 percent of the respondents agreed that instead of increasing the minimum age, the government should focus on better enforcement of the current law to prevent youth usage.

Around 88 percent said flavored smoke-free products should be allowed, as long as they are not marketed or sold to non-smokers or youth As many as 95 percent of e-cig and HTP consumers said the ability to use flavored products, such as menthol is important in influencing their decision to try smoke-free alternatives.

Results of the study showed that 53 percent of e-cig and HTP users prefer menthol flavor, 19 percent stick to tobacco flavor, and 28 percent want other flavors in these vaporized nicotine products.

ACORN is the largest independent regional think tank with full-service offices in 11 Asian countries, including the Philippines. It conducted the survey about the attitudes of Filipino tobacco and nicotine consumers from Aug. 3 to 15, 2021, with a sample size of 2,000 legal-age smokers (above 18) and vapers (above 21) nationwide.

Behold God’s glory and seek His mercy.

Pause, ponder, act, and pray, people.