MANILA, Philippines — More than 200,000 vapers in the country are calling on President Duterte to regulate or set rules regarding e-cigarette use rather than ban it.

The Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association (PECIA), the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), The Vapers Alliance and the Nicotine Consumer of the Philippines (NCOP) also admitted that they were disappointed by the order of PNP-OIC Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa to arrest e-cigarette users, or vapers, smoking in public place.

CAPHRA believes it is unlikely that the President explained even 95 percent of e-cigarette causes as opposed to smoking traditional cigarettes or cigars.

Clarisse Virgino, a representative of CAPHRA in the Philippines, said that in the study, millions of smokers were helped to stop smoking around the world but because of the vaping ban, e-cigarette users are likely to return to tobacco smoking.

PECIA, on the other hand, emphasized that e-cigarettes are for adult smokers and not for minors while in 2013 they are promoting regulation.

According to the World Health Organization, smoking tobacco is dangerous and contains “harmful and potentially harmful chemicals” (HPHC) while aerosol emissions from vaping products have been reported to be safer and fewer HPHCs.

In a study by University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom, the use of e-cigarettes has helped 50,000 and 70,000 smokers in England quit smoking. (Chris Figueroa/IAMIGO/CNS)