Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for an Inter-Agency Task Force to lead the fight against widespread illicit trade in excisable goods, especially cigarettes and vape products.
Gatchalian stressed the need for a coordinated effort to keep the youth from getting enticed into vaping.
The chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means is set to file a resolution calling for the creation of an inter-agency body, to be led by the Department of Trade and Industry and tasked with conducting a market analysis to recommend concrete policies.
“If we don’t arrest this problem, mas maraming bata ang papasok sa e-cigarettes.”
“If we don’t arrest this problem, mas maraming bata ang papasok sa e-cigarettes. We need to change the consumption habits of the young dahil ito ang papatay sa kanila,” the veteran legislator said, citing data showing that over 120,000 adolescents took up the habit of vaping even though they had no previous smoking experience.
“Over 120,000 adolescents took up the habit of vaping even though they had no previous smoking experience.”
The seasoned lawmaker said he is willing to support the provision of funding for the inter-agency body.
“We need to sound the alarm bells and we hope to secure multi-year funding so we can create sustainability,” the senator concluded.
