The Vices Regulation Unit (VRU) on Thursday continues to warn the youth about the thousands of poisonous chemicals in cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
VRU Focal Person and Smoking Cessation Counsellor Jalyn Pareja said that the VRU also continues with its public awareness, especially for 18-25 year olds, who are frequently caught smoking vapes.
“Padayon ang paghatag og awareness sa harmful effects sa sigarilo kay vulernable ang atong youth sa e-cigarettes. Abi nila ang ilang gina-inhale is tobacco leaves lang once ma burn na ang tobacco ma aerosolyzed na siya, daghan na kaayo og poisonous chemicals, actually naa sa 7,000 poisonous chemicals ilang makuha sa produkto, kadaghanan wala kabalo ana (We continue to raise awareness on the harmful effects of cigarettes because our youth are vulnerable to e-cigarettes. Many of them think that what they are inhaling is only tobacco. However, once the tobacco burns, it becomes aerosolized and contains numerous poisonous chemicals. In fact, there are about 7,000 harmful chemicals that can be found in tobacco products, and most people are not aware of this),” Pareja said.
Pareja added that their office – from January to March – apprehended 2,008 violators of anti-smoking ordinance, while majority are 20-35 years old, they found an increase in the apprehension of youth who used tobacco products, vape and smokeless products.
“Karon nitaas ang apprehension sa nag edad og 18-25 na halos nadakpan na tobacco products kay vape (Currently, there has been an increase in apprehensions among individuals aged 18 to 25, and most of those caught using tobacco products were found to be using vape),” she said.
Pareja said VRU enforcers have been monitoring establishments near schools since the resumption of classes to deter the sale of tobacco products to minors
“Continuous man ta ana kay sa atong Republic Act 9211 and sa atong ordinance nga bawal gyud manigarilyo ang atong mga minors and bawal gyud mamaligya 100 meters away sa eskwelahan (We continue to emphasize that under Republic Act 9211 and our local ordinance, minors are strictly prohibited to smoke, and the sale of tobacco products is also prohibited within 100 meters from schools),” Pareja said.
She added that the month of June is No-Smoking Month and they will intensify public awareness on ill effects of smoking and smoking cessation program, in partnership with the Department of Heath and the City Health Office.
Free counseling is given to those who seek to quit smoking. Their office also intensified the implementation of the anti-smoking ordinance.
“Wag Magpaloko sa Vape at Sigarilyo” is this month’s theme,” she said. CIO