Dr. Rafael Castillo, former president of the Philippine Heart Association , noted that the decline in smoking rate has been slow under the present strategy involving the use of nicotine replacement therapy.
Castillo also said that while the use of alternative tobacco products does not completely eliminate the harm, they can significantly reduce or mitigate the health risks. It will also transfer the regulatory powers over the products from the Food and Drug Administration to the Department of Trade and Industry.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III had said that there is evidence that vapes and e-cigarettes are “harmful and not risk-free,” adding that they increase the risk of heart and respiratory diseases as well as explosion injuries.
Cigarettes and Vapes are not expensive enough for them to quit cold turkey.