House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta on Sunday disputed the accusations that lawmakers prioritized the passing of the Vape Bill over other pandemic-related legislations.
"Hindi naman inuna," Marcoleta told DZRH in an interview.
(It was not prioritized.)
"Halos walong taon din namang pimnag-usapan ito sa Senado … nagsimula sa mababang kapulungan hanggang sa ito ay mapagtibay na sa bicameral panel," he added.
(It was debated in the Senate for almost eight years. It started in the lower house until it was ratified in the bicameral panel.)
The vape bill seeks to regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, and use of vape products and novel tobacco products.
However, it was criticized for lowering the accessible age for vaping from 21 years old to 18 years old.
"Bakit hindi mo naman papayagan yung 18 years old na tignan niya sa sarili niya kung anong mas makabubuti sa kanya?" Marcoleta responded in the accusation.
(Why wouldn’t you allow an 18-year-old to decide for himself over what’s good for him?)
He added that the bill has stronger sanctions than the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, especially when it comes to minors accessing vape products.
"Kaya rito protektado talaga yung mga minors, hindi sila makaka-access diyan, pati sa advertisement na makaka-attract sa kanila sa vaping," the official said.
(So minors are protected here. They will not access it, even advertisements that could encourage them to do it.)
He also responded to the question on why the function to oversee vape products was transferred from the Food and Drug Administration to the Department of Trade and Industry.
"Kasi hindi naman siya health product, ito ay isang regulated merchandise," said Marcoleta. "Makikita mo may ginagamit na electronic gadget dito."
(Because it is not a health product. It is a regulated merchandise. You can see that there is an electronic gadget being used here.)
However, he stressed that the FDA would not be completely out of the picture when it comes to the manufacturing of vape.
"Pero ang totoo niyan, hindi naman nawawala ng kapangyarihan ang FDA … may control din naman ang FDA, hindi naman ganap na nawala," he said.
(The truth is, the FDA does not lose its power over it. The FDA still has control, it is not completely removed.)
The vape bill is now only waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature before it gets passed into law.
