But we all die, right? Some of us will just die sooner in a more horribly protracted and painful way. – I Care A Lot

How hard is it for the most powerful man in the land to do something that would keep his constituents — the people – out of harm’s way?

Sometimes it’s as easy as the mere stroke of a pen.

You think statecraft is a complex, daunting, intractable matter?

Actually, it’s just about doing the right thing.

Surely, no leader, no matter how badly he or she fared in the past, could be faulted for this.

Especially if all the hard work had already been done.

Congress had finished the job, and it is now up to the Chief Executive to render the finishing touches.

And when he does, the final product becomes his own masterpiece.

Piece of cake.

Thus, consumer and harm-reduction advocacy groups have appealed to President Duterte to sign the vape bill into law after it was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives to provide more than 16 million Filipino smokers less harmful alternatives to help them quit.

The bill seeks to ban the sale to and use by minors of vape products, and the sale, advertising and promotion of vape products within 100 meters of school perimeter and playground.

Senate Bill 2239 or Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act proposes to restrict access to vaporized nicotine products or vapes to 18 years old and above.

SB 2259 seeks to lower the minimum age for electronic cigarette use from 21 as provided under the excise tax law.

The bill seeks to require retailers to verify the age of buyers by presenting any valid ID indicating the age and birth date.

It aims to regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use and consumption of e-cigs and heated tobacco products adopting internationally accepted standards to protect citizens from the hazards of regulated, unregulated, and substandard products.

The House of Representatives had approved on May 25 last year its version, House Bill 9007 or the proposed Non-Combustible Nicotine Delivery Systems Regulation Act, which recognizes tobacco- harm reduction as a public health strategy.

HB 9007, a consolidation of 23 bills authored by 154 representatives, seeks to establish a clear and effective law and regulation, including product standards to govern vaporized nicotine products which are considered non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes.

It expressly declares as a policy of the State “to consider harm reduction measures as a public health strategy by ensuring that non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes are properly regulated”.

SB 2239 and HB 9007 aim to fill the gap in local regulation amid the proliferation of sale and use of HTPs and vaping products among Filipino consumers.

Use of “flavor descriptors” that unduly appeal to minors in vape products and the display of vape products immediately next to products of particular interest to minors are prohibited. Persons who violate these provisions would be penalized with a fine or imprisonment.

In their letter to the President, the groups, representing over 16 million Filipino smokers and a million vapers, said the Vaporized Nicotine Products Bill, once signed into law, would regulate e-cigs, HTPs, and other vaporized nicotine products while ensuring that they contribute to government revenues.

“In passing the vape bill, the lives of 16 million Filipino smokers will be saved because legitimate alternative products will be allowed to be sold to smokers who want to stop smoking. The vape bill will also put an end to the sale of unregulated and illegal products that do not pay excise taxes to the government,” according to the groups which launched the successful viral campaign, “We Vape, We Vote!”.

Officials or representatives of Vapers PH, Vaper Ako, Smoke-Free Conversation PH, Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines, Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association, Quit For Good, Heated Equipment as Alternative to Traditional Smoking Philippines, PROVAPE, Philippine Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates, Inc. and Consumer Choice Philippines signed the letter.

“With the growing positive scientific evidence coupled with our life-changing experiences, our resolve is stronger — vaping saves lives! We earnestly hope you would consider our humble plea, Mr. President, and sign the vape bill into law,” the groups said.

Congress is expected to hold a Bicameral Conference Committee this month to reconcile the Senate and Lower House versions of the bill. The version passed by the committee and ratified by the two chambers would be sent to the President for his approval and signature.

Intended to help adult smokers quit cigarettes, the bill has strong measures to protect minors from accessing and consuming the device.

“We support the reasonable and science-based regulations mandated by the vape bill to ensure that adult smokers stop smoking using a safer alternative.