NAGKAISA ang mga magulang at cause-oriented youth groups sa panawagan kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na i-veto ang pinagsamang House Bill 9007 at Senate Bill 2239 o ang Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Bill, o mas kilala bilang “Vape Bill.”

Ang nasabing bill ay parehas nang niratipikahan ng dalawang Houses of Congress noong Enero para maipasa Malacañang. 

Subalit, may mga ulat na may mga taktikang isinasagawa para mabawasan ang oras ng pangulo na mapag-aralan ang lehislasyon.

“As concerned parents, we are now sounding the alarm, Mr. President. Time is ticking. Call on Congress to immediately transmit the bill. The almost half-year long delay has been orchestrated by the tobacco industry and self-serving legislators to deprive you of the opportunity to act on the bill and protect your legacy against dangerous substances,” paliwanag ni Imelda Gocotano, convener ng parents group Parents laban sa Vape.

“We reiterate our grave concern over this anti-health bill. It will endanger our children, the hope of the nation. Act now Mr. President, and stop the evil plan of those behind this dangerous bill,” dagdag pa ni Gocotano.

Sa pahayag kamakailan, ang Child Rights Network ay nakapaghain ng maraming alalahanin sa Vape Bill, kasama na ang relaxed regulations sa ‘sale, distribution, use, and promotion of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or e-cigarettes, and vaporized nicotine products (VNPs), giving the tobacco industry a free pass to reach even children’.

Ang consolidated bill ay pinababa rin ang minimum age of access sa e-cigarettes mula edad-21 patungo sa 18-anyos, isinantabi ang panukala ng ilang health experts na panatilihin ang 21-anyos bilang age restriction base sa Republic Act 11467.

Ang Department of Education ay naglabas na rin ng kanilang official statement na nagpapahayag ng kanilang pagtutol sa ilang probisyon. (JOEL O. AMONGO)