“The draft new Constitution would be purely recommendatory, however.”

Before the end of next month, the 25-member Constitutional Commission (Con-com) handpicked by President Rodrigo Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution and propose revisions in light of changes in the political, economic and social situation in the country would have completed its task in time for his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23.

So what is the status of its deliberations so far?

According to Con-com chairman and former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, they are almost done with the draft federal constitution.

The centerpice of the draft constitution is the shift from the unitary to a federal system of government.

The essence of federalism, he explained, is not only the delegation of power but equitable distribution of the powers between the federal government and the government of constituent states.

The unitary system concentrated the resources and services of government in the capital region, which left the other regions and provinces economically backward.

Since government is capital-centered, the result is Metro Manila and the neighboring regions enjoy prosperity while the other regions wallow in poverty.

Apart from this, the Con-com has also approved en banc a revised preamble, a new article on political rights and political parties, articles on legislative department and executive branch, anti-political dynasty provisions and the elevation of the Commission on Human Rights to a constitutional commission.

Other articles approved at subcommittee level are those on national territory, declaration of principles and state policies, bill of rights with the addition of socioeconomic and environmental rights, citizenship, suffrage, judicial branch and family.

Still being deliberated upon are the structure of federated regions and their powers; the constitutional commissions such as the Commission on Audit and the Civil Service Commission; liberalization of restrictive economic provisions, and the transitory provisions.

The draft new Constitution would be purely recommendatory, however. It would be Congress sitting as Constitutional Assembly that would come up with a final draft that would be submitted to the people for ratification in a referendum-plebiscite called for the purpose.

The latest survey shows Charter change and the shift to a federal system of government are among the least of the priorities of Filipinos, since they are more concerned with getting jobs and coping with high prices. Will the draft Constitution and the final version to be adopted by the Constitutional Assembly garner sufficient support from the Filipino people? Let’s wait and see.

The 1987 Constitution mandates the State “to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” That includes protecting Filipinos from harm from cigarette smoking.

Representatives from the government, academe and consumer advocacy groups converged at the 1st Summit on Harm Reduction organized by The Vapers Philippines recently in Quezon City.

Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos presented two studies at the multi-stakeholder summit which showed that smokers with asthma and hypertension experienced improved lung function and lower blood pressure after switching to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or personal vaporizers). He has been conducting research on e-cigarettes since 2011 and published more than 60 studies and articles in international scientific journals about smoking, tobacco harm reduction, and e-cigarettes.

A two-year study by Italian researchers looked at 18 smokers with mild to moderate asthma. All smokers switched to e-cigarettes but two eventually relapsed and resorted to dual use of combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The researchers concluded that e-cigarette use improves asthma outcomes and its beneficial effects may persist in the long-term benefits. They also concluded that, in asthma patients who smoke, switching to e-cigarettes can reverse harm from tobacco smoking.

A one-year study by Greek and Italian researchers, on the other hand, showed smokers with elevated BP who reduce or quit smoking by using e-cigarettes may lower their systolic blood pressure in the long term, and this reduction is particularly apparent in quitters. The study adds to the current evidence that e-cigarette use appears to be a less harmful alternative to tobacco smoking.

A representative from the office of Congressman Rodel Batocabe (AKO Bicol Party List) discussed pending and proposed national and local legislation on vaping. Batocabe is the author of House Bill 532 which seeks to regulate e-cigarettes in the same way as conventional cigarettes.

City Administrator Aldrin Cuña, speaking on behalf of Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, gave an overview of the city government’s current regulations on e-cigarettes. Cuña welcomed continuing dialogue with all stakeholders.