The head of Iloilo City’s anti-smoking task force has applauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to prohibit vaping or the use of electronic cigarettes in public places nationwide.

Iñigo Garingalao, Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Taskforce (ICAST) director, believes that like tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes have also hazardous effects on human health.

“Ginatout nga safer ini than the conventional cigarette, lesser seguro ang mga chemical content pero amo man sya sa gihapon (hazardous),” he said.

Last week, Duterte issued a verbal order banning the use and importation of e-cigarettes in the country.

“Vaping is also dangerous, I am banning it. I am now ordering the law enforcement agencies to arrest anybody vaping in public,” he said.

Garingalao said he was worried by the spread of vaping among young people.

“Naga amat-amat siya popular sa mga youth. We know that youth are adventurous, prone to try new things and sleek. Indi mo madiscount ang ila marketing arm sa amo na nga parti,” he said.

Garingalao said e-cigarette are supposed to be a tool to quit smoking.

“Ini nga produkto gamiton sang tawo para little by little gamayon niya ang nicotine content kay amo ni ang gapaadik sa smoker kag mag-untat sya smoke. Pero gina market sa kabataan, ginabutangan namit nga mga flavours. Wala bawal magsinulod sa mga vape shop ang mga kabataan,” he lamented.

Garingalao said Iloilo is one of the first local government units (LGUs), as validated by international NGOs (non-government organizations), that prohibit vaping in public places through ordinances.

Garingalao claimed that compared to Manila, Baguio, Cebu and other areas in the country, the city has lesser number of vape users.

He noted that only “one or two out of 10 smokers” apprehended in the city were using e-cigarittes.

“Na limita siya kay tungod nga gapanakop kita. Diri sa aton, kon diin indi pwede ka cigarette, indi ka man pwede ka vape. Maapektuhan sini ang mga nagpalatindog vape shop,” said Garingalao.

Last Nov. 15, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first case of an illness related to vaping.

A 16-year-old girl from the Visayas suffered from lung injury due to vaping, according to the country’ health department.IMT