Task force to implement EO for anti-smoking
THE Baguio Anti-Smoking Task Force (TF) is set to implement Executive Order (EO) 106 of President Rodrigo Duterte amending EO 26 which includes vaping or e-cigarettes in the nationwide smoking ban.
Donnabel Tubera, Baguio City Health Services Office and lead campaigner of the anti-smoking task force, said EO 106 also bans the manufacture, distribution, marketing, and sale of unregistered and/or adulterated electronic nicotine/non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS) and heated tobacco products (HTPs), and other novel tobacco products.
“The City Task Force welcomes this and it will be the task force who implements this (executive order) because of the more stringent rule of EO 106 which includes increasing the access to 21 years old because under our ordinance, it is only up to 18. It’s an Executive Order but it is an off shoot of Republic Act (RA) 11467,” Tubera said.
EO 106 amends EO 26 or the nationwide smoking ban. Definitions of traditional tobacco smoking now include, which are to be held to similar standards.
“Secondly, those who will be selling vape products should be selling a registered vape including juices because at present, they have to get a registration form the Department of Health’s FDA (Food and Drugs Authority) which is why they will now be required with an additional requirement that before they will come up with the necessary business permits, they will be required to come up with a registration of product,” the city health officer stated.
Tubera reported that based on the records of the City Licensing Office, it did not issue any business permits to any vape shops operating in the city because they have still to wait for the registration which was an earlier Administrative Order of the President.
“The challenge on the part of the city now is on online selling which is why we are inviting the National Bureau of Investigation if they can help us in this online selling. We will be involving other agencies already involved in cyberselling to know there role regarding this EO, the PNP is also tasked here and the smoke-free task force and at the same time, we are looking at how we can access the IP addresses of these online sellers,” Tubera added.