The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday disclosed it has intensified efforts to end vaping within school premises, including a ban on the sale and promotion of the product within 100-meter radius of the schools.
DepEd Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban said they will collaborate with other government agencies to ensure strict compliance to the ban.
“We are intensifying the implementation of our programs. From Friends versus Drugs that evolved into Friends versus Vices, integrating it to our mental health program,” Galban said.
The programs were rolled out in compliance with DepEd Order 14 and DepEd Memorandum 111, which prohibits the use of cigarettes and vapes in schools.
“We also created a task force, led by the youth, our learners who will serve as watchdogs,” Galban added.
Among the partner agencies for the campaign are the Department of Health (DOH) , the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The DILG and DOH will help promote policies and awareness campaigns beyond school premises, while the DTI will assist the DepEd in eradicating the sale of vapes.
“We will work together with other government agencies, especially the local government units to ensure that this [vape] will not be available to our learners,” he added.
Galban warned the students that vaping is highly addictive and may cause low concentration, withdrawal symptoms, and may even affect brain functions.
“Vaping has many bad side effects. Especially because oftentimes, it has a very high nicotine content. It’s very addicting, enticing),” he said.
He also urged parents and teachers to become role models and participate in the DepEd’s awareness campaigns.
In an earlier report, the DepEd said around six to seven percent of Grade 7 to Grade 9 students have tried or are using vape.
The Philippine Pediatric Society reported that around 11 percent of students aged 10 to 15 have tried vaping as per 2021 data.