The doctors are in the dark. They’re groping in the dark…we should not have consigned him blindly into their hands. He should not suffer by our ignorance. We take responsibility. – Lorenzo’s Oil Minimum effort, maximum outcome.

It’s like shooting the proverbial two birds with one stone.

It’s a no-brainer, really.

Would you pass up on something where you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain?

The guy can make it happen by simply setting pen to paper and signing the measure into posterity as among his chief legacies.

Most outgoing Chief Executives worry about what to leave behind and be remembered for as they round out their terms.

President Duterte would definitely be remembered or reviled, depending from which side of the political fence one is speaking, for his unrelenting anti-illegal dugs campaign and his massive public construction overdrive that drastically changed the country’s infrastructure landscape.

But why stop with just two bright, shining pendants (the other even tainted, bloodied) when you can have a full, colorful garland?

By simply appending his signature to a landmark bill, he can fatten the state coffers while enhancing general public health and the quality of life of the people.

The vape measure is a consolidation of Senate Bill 2239 or the “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act” and House Bill 9007 or the “Non-Combustible Nicotine Delivery Systems Regulation Act”.

The bill seeks to provide 16 million Filipinos smokers with viable alternatives such as electronic cigarettes and/or vaporized nicotine and heated tobacco products that are considered less harmful when compared to combusted cigarettes.

Thus, a major business group asked for the President’s approval of the vape bill into law, saying this would support both the government’s revenue and health objectives.

“The enactment of the vape bill will provide a sweet spot for achieving the government’s revenue and health objectives,” the Federation of Philippine Industries said in a letter to the President.

In a letter sent through Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea on January 31, the FPI said the vape bill would save the lives of Filipino smokers with the help of less harmful alternatives, while protecting local jobs and investments. The bill was earlier ratified by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

FPI is the largest umbrella group of 168 organizations and companies from various industries and supports legislation enhancing economic development and informing members and the public about economic issues and policies which affect business directions.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza, FPI chairman, said the group endeavors to serve as the voice of domestic enterprises and become an effective partner of the government in promoting and developing globally competitive industries.

“As we are a staunch ally for the advancement of domestic industries, especially small and medium enterprises, FPI would like to take this opportunity to humbly urge His Excellency to enact into law the vape bill,” Arranza said.

It vape bill aims to establish clear and effective regulations on less harmful alternatives to combusted cigarettes.

Once enacted into law, it will regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use and consumption of these products such as e-cigs, vapes, and HTPs.

Results of the 2015 Global Adult Tobacco Survey showed that while 76.7 percent of smokers planned or thought about quitting, only four percent were able to do so. The vape bill hopes to encourage more smokers to quit.

The FPI said it strongly supports the bill’s overwhelming approval in the House of Representatives and the Senate and the fair regulation of alternatives to cigs.

“Regulations of these e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products which have indications of providing reduced risks compared to cigarettes should rightly be at parity, or at least not more restrictive than cigarettes—the leading cause of preventable death in the world,” the FPI said.

It said among the vape bill’s key features is the prohibition of sale to and marketing initiatives targeting or appealing to minors, and the imposition of hefty fines and imprisonment on violators.

The bill bans the sale, advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes and HTPs within 100 meters from any school, playground or other facilities frequented by minors.

“Our time-honored advocacy extends, not only to the welfare of Philippine industries, but also to their stakeholders including adult smokers and minors,” the FPI said.

It noted ample provisions in the bill aimed at combating illicit trade and promote a level playing field between and among foreign and domestic manufacturers, importers and exporters of both VNP and non-nicotine products.

The FPI said that under the bill, only the Department of Trade and Industry-registered and Bureau of Internal Revenue-compliant products would be allowed to be sold, advertised or distributed through lawful means.

“Illicit trade of these products as well as unintended use are minimized, if not totally eradicated,” the FPI said.

The bill empowers the DTI to order a recall or seizure of non-compliant products sold both online and in-store. The BIR is authorized to prescribe a floor price for these products.

It also regulates online sales, which is considered timely given the widespread shift to e-commerce from traditional trade channels, according to FPI.

“These new reforms would make it difficult for unscrupulous, unregistered, and non-taxpaying traders to peddle their smuggled goods to innocent consumers. All these also guarantee correct, adequate and stable collection of taxes for the government, while at the same time safeguarding local employment and investment of legitimate industries,” the group said.

FPI, echoing health and medical experts, said the availability of these less harmful alternatives would be a gain for public health, particularly for 16 million Filipino smokers.

Public Health England, a leading health agency in Europe, found vapes to be at least 95-percent less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

The United Kingdom and other countries that adopted progressive policies around vaping have seen their smoking rates decline twice as fast as other nations, according to scientific studies.

The group said the vape bill would also regulate a new industry that can raise more taxes to the government.

Data released by the Bureau of the Treasury showed a 15.56-percent year-on-year rise of government revenues last November to P284 billion.

This jump is higher than the 10.34-percent expansion in expenditures to P412.7 billion, which resulted in a budget gap of P128.7 billion, down 0.33 percent compared to year-ago level.

BTr data showed that total government revenues in the first 11 months this year rose by 5.99 percent to P2.77 trillion, while expenditures increased by 11.4 percent to P4.106 trillion.

This brought the budget deficit to P1.33 trillion, up by 24.63 percent year-on-year.

The FPI said the enactment of the vape bill would support “economic stability and fiscal sustainability through policies that support local businesses and workers”.

“It is our desire to work hand in hand with the Office of the President to create a globally competitive Philippines grounded on effective legislation,” it said.

Behold God’s glory and seek His mercy.

Pause, ponder, act, and pray, people.