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| Eugene Chua, CEO of Shift International |
This CEO of an international vape company certainly says things straight.
"Hindi ko sinasabing vaping is healthy," said Eugene Chua of Shift International. "Vaping is still harmful---but maybe less harmful than cigarettes."
The subject was brought up in an interview during the opening of the newest branch of social media personality Diwata's "paresan" in Quezon City over the weekend.
Diwata, a vape user, is a supporter of Shift International, and so with his friend, entrepreneur Rosmar Tan, who, ironically enough, doesn't vape at all. Another high-profile supporter, Rendon Labador, is a fitness advocate not into vaping.
All three claim to do the pitching for free, as in they don't get paid a single centavo.
And maybe that's a statement in itself right there.
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| Eugene Chua (center) with Shift International supporters Diwata, Rendon Labador and Rosmar Tan |
"I'm not recommending that vaping is good for your health---that it's not dangerous for your health---but our products are for existing vapers or smokers only," Eugene underscored. "Hindi kami nanghihikayat ng tao na mag-vape, lalo na yung mga bata. We don't push, we don't do hard selling. Our products are for those who want an alternative to smoking; yung ayaw ng mabaho, yung ayaw sa nicotine and tar na meron ang yosi."
Vaping is hot topic in the Philippines these days. Starting June 1, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has made it mandatory for all imported and locally manufactured vape products to have internal revenue stamps, as stated in Revenue Memorandum Circular 59-2024.
Eugene and his company are all for it.
"We support BIR, to make everything legal. We are happy that BIR is pursuing everything para ma cut down (ang dami) ng illicit products (in the market)."
Actually, Shift International is the only vaping company in the Philippines so far to comply. About year and half ago---long before BIR laid down the regulation---they started working on getting a valid Philippine Standard certification mark license issued for their vape products.
"And because bayad ang taxes at may seal, sigurado ang quality at di matatakot ang mga shop owners to display our products," Eugene pointed out. "They have to choose the brands (they carry) wisely."
The CEO took it one step further, saying: "Hindi man tayo ang number one vape brand sa ngayon, I can assure that we'll be the number one tax payer in the local vaping industry."
And it's not only the BIR and the Department of Trade and Industries that Shift International supports. Eugene made the blanket statement that whatever the government deems fit, his company will abide. Move the vaping age from 18 to 21? Ban vaping in the work place? Not sell vape products online? Yes to all, if the government says so, Eugene said.
In fact, Shift International has never sold their products online "because hindi mo ma-monitor ang tunay na edad ng bumibili."
"We impose that all our distributors have proper documents, may business license," he said. "We encourage our distributors to follow all legalities. Mahigpit namin pinapatupad sa shops na no selling to minors, as our products are only for 18 years old and above."
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