Advocates from a health advocacy group on Thursday pressed anew for a vaping ban in the country, citing the need for the Philippines to join its Southeast Asian neighbors that implemented the same policy.
HealthJustice Philippines made the statement following Vietnam's announcement to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products on 30 November as part of its broader public health and safety initiatives.
The ban on the production, trade, importation, storage, transportation, and use of e-cigarettes will take effect beginning 2025.
Other Southeast Asian countries that banned the use of vapes include Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei.
"The growing momentum across Southeast Asia to ban e-cigarettes or vapes present a critical opportunity for the Philippines," Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, former Department of Health chief and Board Member of HealthJustice.
"By adopting stronger regulations, the Philippines can align itself with its regional neighbors in prioritizing health of its citizens and protecting the net generation from the harms of nicotine addiction," Galvez Tan added.
Vapes including heated tobacco products, often marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes, have been linked to a range of health concerns, particularly for youth.
Flavored e-liquids, which strongly appeal to the youth, have fueled a surge in vaping among adolescents, exposing them to nicotine addiction and harmful chemicals.
Unfortunately, the advocates pointed out "the industry-friendly Vape Regulation Law does little to curb this trend, offering only weak oversight of these harmful products."
"By banning e-cigarettes, Southeast Asian countries are taking decisive action to protect public health, particularly for their younger populations, and to prevent a new generation from falling prey to nicotine dependency," Galvez Tan said.
"The Philippines must not lag behind, but rather, seek to act proactively to safeguard the health of its people," the ex-Health official added.
The urgency of this issue is underscored by alarming statistics – one in seven Filipino students aged 13 to 15 use vapes, that is approximately 1.6 million adolescents – based on the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey.
The country recorded this year its first death due to e-cigarette or vaping-use-associated lung injury.
“To protect youth and curb the rising tide of the nicotine addiction crisis, lawmakers in the Philippines should also consider more stringent regulations,” Galvez Tan emphasized.
“This includes implementing an immediate ban on these products to put an effective stop to the vape epidemic.”
According to a Department of Education report, around six to seven percent of Grade 7 to Grade 9 learners have already tried or are using vape.
The Philippine Pediatric Society also reported that around 11 percent of students aged 10 to 15 have tried vaping as per 2021 data.
The sale of vaping within school premises, including within a school's 100-meter radius, is prohibited.