19/06/2023
BAN ON V**E IN SCHOOLS - Schools and other Learning Institutions both public and private are urged to implement prohibitions of Electronic Ni****ne Devices (ENDS) such as E-cigarettes, known as V**e, to protect the youth from their deadly impacts.
The Baguio City Council signed Resolution Numbered 257, Series of 2023, on April 28, 2023, urging all schools, universities, and other learning institutions in the city of Baguio to strictly implement the prohibition and banning of E-Cigarettes products, known as “v**e”, within their school premises.
The resolution is in response to the recent study by the Saint Louis University (SLU) in coordination with the City Health Services Office (CHSO) entitled "Global Adults To***co Survey (GATS)." The study states that an increase in the use of v**e among the youth has dramatically increased in the city. The Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) also reported that there is an increase in minors caught smoking or va**ng, violating the City Smoke-Free Ordinance.
Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, Acting City Health Officer, Health Services Office (HSO), stressed that “This will ensure that our children will be safe inside the school premises from these addictive to***co products… We do not want another generation to fall victim to these products that suck you dead financially, mentally, and physically and destroy the future of our youth.”
The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) also issued a memorandum in 2021 prohibiting all forms of to***co consumption and smoking like e-cigarettes (known as v**e), hooka smoking, and other similar products in CHEd and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) premises. The memo also applies to CHED officials and employees, heads of public and private HEIs, including the teaching and non-teaching personnel, and their students, including visitors.
“We expect that CHED, HEIs and other Learning Institutions would fully enforce this for the student’s right to health and the health of teaching and non-teaching personnel. This is a whole of government approach, a whole of society approach to achieve a Smoke-Free school, a Smoke-Free community without the threat of second-hand smoke”, stated Dr. Donnabel Panes, To***co Control Coordinator, HSO.
The Office of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President, Hon. Levy Lloyd Orcales speaheaded the composition of the resolution for the further protection of the youth's health and welfare. //KJDPagada
Pia Cayetano
World Health Organization Philippines
