BAGUIO CITY – The city government's Health Services Office (HSO) is seeking the support of different schools in curbing the use of vape among students by confiscating them.

“We are collaborating with universities in curbing vaping. We hope that universities continue to do this to avoid exposing the students to unnecessary lung disorders because of vape,” said Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, city health officer, on the sidelines of the Lung Summit Medical Mission here on Thursday.

The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) hosted the activity at the President Fidel Valdez Ramos gymnasium.

While the Baguio City Anti-Smoking Task Force recorded a decrease in cigarette smoking from 35.4 percent to 13.1 percent from 2014 to date, Brillantes said many smokers have shifted to the use of vape.

She said the nicotine in vapes is equivalent to 2.5 packs of cigarette. Moreover, vape fluid contains dangerous ingredients aside from formaldehyde and toluene, which pose health risks.

She said they are coordinating with government agencies involved in social media management to help curb the sale of vapes online.

“It is very important that we get their cooperation. We in the grassroots are doing extra effort but we are hard up with other factors such as online advertisement and selling. Selling of vapes in shops is prohibited but we hope they help us regulate and remove such items online so that it does not become accessible,” Brillantes added.

Dr. Louella De Leon, a pulmonologist at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) and member of the ACCP, said that cancer, specifically of the lungs, is among the top causes of death in Baguio.

“The medical mission is a small move but it will help because the act does not stop here to address the problem. We give quality medicines, we refer the patients to the doctor for continuous medication,” De Leon said in an interview.

She said they gave free consultation, pulmonary function test, X-ray, and medicines to at least 250 persons of different ages.

Meanwhile, the Smoke-Free Task Force conducted an operation that led to the issuance of a citation ticket and the confiscation of vape pods and batteries worth approximately P600,000 from a social media personality on June 5.

A Facebook post from the influencer with millions of followers on Facebook and TikTok looking for vape retailers based here, La Trinidad, and Benguet province was forwarded to the task force.

The post included a mobile number for retailers who wanted to buy vape products, a violation of Section 12 of Republic Act 11900 as well as three prohibited acts in the Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance.

The Smoke-Free Task Force launched an operation in partnership with Baguio City Police Office City Intelligence Unit and the Environmental Health and Sanitation Division-Health Services Office to apprehend the violators.

They contacted the number in the Facebook post and set a meeting area for a transaction, resulting in the eventual issuance of citation ticket and the confiscation of vape pods and batteries.

Violators were advised to settle their fines promptly.

The Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance prohibits the use, sale, distribution, and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places in the city.

Source: Manila Bulletin.