By Gabriel Kim Leal
(May 31, 2024) – The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday confirmed the first documented death in the Philippines related to e-cigarette or vaping.
In a forum at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, health officials revealed that a 22-year-old man from Laguna suffered a heart attack in 2023 and died despite immediate medical intervention.
It was linked to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury.
“All the possible cause of heart attacks were screened. Nakita na two vessels were blocked, dalawa arteries ang nabarahan, tapos ‘yung kaniyang lungs ay may consolidation, nagdikit-dikit ‘yung lungs niya kahit walang mikrobyo,” said DOH assistant secretary Albert Domingo.
The patient never smoked cigarettes or consumed alcohol but vaped daily for two years.
The DOH reminded the public that vaping is not a safer alternative to smoking.
“Ang problema sa nangyayari ngayon, if we too get fixated by the term ‘tobacco,’ we forget that usok din ‘yan. Na-translate niyo na ba kung ano ang vapor? May panlilinlang na mas okay daw ang vape,” added Domingo.
In a global survey in 2019, 14% of Filipinos aged between 13 to 15 are already vape users, with usage rates at 20.9% among males and 7.5% among females.
Health advocates have blamed Republic Act No. 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act for the rise in vape use among the youth since it became a law in July 2022. It lowered the legal age for purchasing e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 21 to 18.
It also shifted regulation of vape products from the DOH to the Department of Trade and Industry, framing vaping as a business issue rather than a health concern.
Health advocates called for stricter regulations, aligning with global recommendations on age restrictions, flavor bans, and advertising limitations.
(PM)
Our Privacy Commitment
TV5 Network Inc. values and respects your privacy. We are committed to safeguarding your personal data in compliance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its implementing rules and regulations.
We have developed a Privacy Policy that adopts and observes appropriate standards for personal data protection. While our Privacy Policy sets out the general principles governing the collection, use, and disclosure of our users’ personal information, our Privacy Commitment seeks to inform you more about TV5’s privacy practices.
Why do we collect your personal information (as applicable)?
We may collect and maintain basic information about you as site user of TV5 sites for the following purposes:
Where do we get your personal information?
There are several ways we collect your personal information.
Information that you personally provided.
Most of the personal information we have are those that you have provided us when you:
Information we collect during your engagement with us
We also collect information as you use our products and services, like:
Information we collect from other sources
Other means of collection of information may be through:
When do we disclose personal information?
There may be instances when we are required to share the information you provided us. In such cases, we ensure that your personal information will be disclosed on a confidential manner, through secure channels and in compliance with the Data Privacy Act and other privacy laws.
We will never share, rent, or sell your personal information to third parties outside of TV5 except in special cases where you have given consent, and in cases described in our privacy policy.
In some instances, we may be required to disclose your personal information to our agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, business partners and other third-party agencies and service providers as part of our regular business operations and for the provision of our programs and services. This means we might share your information with our service providers, contractors, and professional advisers who help us provide our services.
How we protect your personal information
The integrity, confidentiality, and security of your information is important to us. We have implemented technical, organizational, and physical security measures that are designed to protect your information from unauthorized or fraudulent access, alteration, disclosure, misuse, and other unlawful activities.
We also put in effect the following safeguards:
TV5 will not collect, use, or disclose your personal information for any purpose other than the purpose that you may have given your consent for.
What are your choices?
We make sure that we have your consent to continue to collect, use, and disclose your personal information for the purposes that we have identified. We want you to know that you may object or withdraw your consent and/or edit your consent preferences at any time.
If you wish to have access to the personal information in our custody or if you think that the personal information you provided is incomplete, or otherwise inaccurate, you may get in touch with our Data Protection Officer through the contact details provided below. In some instances, we may request for supporting documents or proof before we effect requested changes.
Data Protection Officer
TV5 Network Inc.
Reliance corner Sheridan Streets
Mandaluyong City
tv5dataprivacy@tv5.com.ph
What happens when there are changes in our Policy?
From time to time, we may update our privacy policy and practices to comply with changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements, adapt to new technologies and protocols, and align with the best practices of the industry.
You will be provided notices if the changes are significant and, if we are required by law, we will obtain your updated consent.