House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta on Sunday said they are hoping to get President Rodrigo Duterte on board the proposed bill regulating the sale and manufacture of vape products.
The vape bill was recently passed amid heating opposition from the medical community and even other lawmakers and is now only waiting for the signature of the president.
"Ang aming paniwala at aming layunin ay sana mahimiok natin ang pangulo sapagkat napakaraming positibong epekto nitong panukalang batas na ito," Marcoleta told DZRH on Sunday.
(Our belief and goal is to encourage the president because the proposed law has a lot of really positive benefits.)
According to Marcoleta, the bill has a positive impact on the country's economy by encouraging more participants to invest in the vape industry.
"Substantial ang magiging contribution nito sa economy dahil maii-stabilize pati 'yung rules kasi papasok ang maraming participants and investors kasi kitang-kita na nila yung rules malinaw na," he said.
(It will have a substantial contribution to the economy because it will stabilize the rules. It will encourage a lot of participants and investors because they will see that the rules are clearer now.)
"Inaasahan ng batas na 'yan na papasok ang maraming investment at ito ang magtataguyod sa paglaki at pagsulong ng ekonomiya," he added.
(The law is expected to introduce more investments and encourage the growth of the economy.)
It will also stop illicit trade on the product and will benefit about 1.2 million farmers and workers under the industry, according to Marcoleta.
"Mahihinto rin namin 'yung mga illicit trade at sa ganun ay 'yun nga, ang pagbabayad ng tamang buwis ay ating maaa-certain," he said.
(It will also stop illicit trade and it will make certain that proper taxes are paid.)
"Pagkatapos 'yung direktang makikinabang kasi diyan ay mga about 2.7 million farmers at manggagawa kaugnay ng industriya na yan."
(It will also directly benefit about 2.7 million farmers and workers who are related to the industry.)
Citing the benefits, the lawmaker then urged critics to stop telling Duterte to veto the bill.
"Sana naman ay wag na nilang imungkahi pa na ito ay i-veto ng pangulo sapagkat napag-usapan naman doon at talaga namang nakita ang ebidensya," he said.
(I hope that they do not encourage the president to veto the bill because it was already discussed before and we already saw the evidence.)
Marcoleta said the passing of the vaping bill will help regulate the manufacturing, use, and selling of vape products.
