Manila Health agency head calls for ban on e-cig use, claims they are “no different than tobacco”

[Bill Godshall]

Manila Health agency head calls for banning use of e-cigars (and e-cigarettes), claims they are “no different than tobacco”
E-cigars found to have nicotine - Manila Standard Today

Anyone who cannot tell the difference between nicotine vapor and tobacco smoke is not qualified to work for any health agency or organization. And yet, most of these idiots are heads of health departement and organizations.

Interestingly, e-cigars appear to have taken off in Manila far more than e-cigarettes, as this article doesn't even mention e-cigarettes.

Amazingly, instead of enforcing the smokefree workplace law by holding managements accountable, the Manila health agency has cited tens of thousands of smokers (for smoking in places where smoking is banned), and then offers to make the fine go away if the smoker enrolls in an ineffective smoking cessation program that stigmatizes smokers (similar to the way abstinence only drug and alcohol treatment programs are implemented in the US).

THE Metro Manila Development Authority will back a ban on electronic smoking amid findings of addiction due to nicotine inhalation.

Dr. Loida Alzona, head of the Health Public Safety and Environmental Protection, during the agency’s weekly radio program over dzBB, said electronic cigars were no different from tobacco thus a need to revisit Republic Act 9211, or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.
“There are discussions to amend the Act because of the introduction of electronic cigars in the market,” she said.
Alzona called on local government units to pass their measures to beef up an anti-smoking campaign.
With the amendment of the law, we expect to save more lives,” she said. According to Alzona, their intensified anti-smoking drive has already netted 65,688 violators since 2011 with 61,619 male smokers and 4,069 female smokers.
“Close to 6,000 of them have availed themselves of the assistance of the agency’s cessation clinic to quit smoking, instead of paying fines,” she said.
Alzona said the MMDA has partnered with the Philippine Heart Association, a non-stock non-profit organization of cardiologists, to help smoker kick the habit.
“Heart specialists will come over to MMDA headquarters to personally advise those apprehended until and help them until they have finally given up smoking,” she said, noting that barangay health centers should open their own cessation clinics.

 

[Petrodus]

There's no known cure for the "Stupid Virus" !!

 

[tommy2bad]

Heads of departments seldom have any skill set other than being heads of departments, thats a job in itself.
Not surprised they don't know anything about health, or transport or finance or anything.

 

[rothenbj]

Now I've been under the impression that the Philippines was the wild west, or at least it was a decade ago. Everyone that visited there came back with stories. I guess the nanny state has even reached there.

I had to read this link after reading the one on e cigs-

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/03/19/motorcycle-riders-to-wear-vest-too/

I thought it was a safety issue to "protect the children" but no. It was a vest for motorcyclists to wear with their license plate numbers prominently displayed so if the rider was involved in a crime, the overhead cameras could easily id the bike. Perhaps someday we'll all need to wear vests with our SS#s displaced so they can keep track of us.

 

[gravewolf]

My blood has been boiling ever since I've watched the news yesterday. They didn't even back up their accusations with facts and I want to lock these government monkeys in a room filled with analog cigar smoke! Even if they try to ban e-cigs here I will not comply since I firmly believe that an e-cig has helped me in reducing my harmful habit and that it is not an environmental hazard like these ...... are insinuating. The good news is that the vaping community here is very upset and since we are in an election period we might get some help from some politicians, though this might be like having a deal with the devil. What really pisses me off is the amount of misinformation they are spreading against e-cigs and since a lot of people here are still ignorant that they readily accept what they say. A ..... would listen to another ...... I haven't voted in more than a decade since I've been aware that this country is infested with corruption and stupidity.

@rothenbj
Of course the nanny state has a lot of influence here and so does the cigarette industry, we've always kept close ties with them for decades.