‘GLOBAL ASHTRAY’: Former DOH execs urge total vape ban

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

MANILA — Former secretaries and senior officials of the Department of Health have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Congress to enact a nationwide ban on vape products, warning that the growing popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems threatens public health and could fuel nicotine addiction among Filipino youth.

In a joint statement, the former officials said banning vape products would “rectify the grievous public health mistake of legalizing them,” halt the normalization of nicotine addiction, and protect the right to health of Filipinos.

“We urge His Excellency President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Congress to immediately enact a ban on vape products in the country,” the group said.

The signatories said the surge in vaping use could reverse decades of tobacco control gains in the Philippines and create a new generation of nicotine-dependent users.

The Philippines has made significant progress in reducing smoking prevalence, from 27 percent in 2009 to 17.4 percent in 2021, largely through higher excise taxes and stricter tobacco regulation. Health advocates warn that the rapid growth of vaping threatens to erode these gains, particularly among young Filipinos.

Their warning cites ingredients in vape products, including nicotine and other harmful chemicals, which have been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and lung illnesses.

“Youth use is rising creating a new generation of nicotine addicts,” the statement said.

The former officials also disputed claims that vaping is a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, saying vape products may be more addictive due to higher nicotine concentrations and efficient delivery mechanisms.

The group cited recent calls by the DOH to prohibit vape products.

The current DOH secretary, Teodoro Herbosa, earlier described vape products as “poison” and questioned the logic of allowing their widespread availability, particularly among young people, according to the statement.

They also noted that the Department of Trade and Industry has issued a draft regulation that would prohibit the sale and distribution of open-system vape products amid concerns that such devices may be used for illegal substances.

However, the former officials said regulatory efforts alone are insufficient to address the risks posed by vaping.

“These twin laudable efforts and initiatives of the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry should be backed by strong policy action on the part of Congress through the swift passage of a law banning vapes in the country,” the statement said.

They pointed out that eight countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have already imposed bans on vape products as part of measures to protect public health and prevent youth nicotine addiction.

Without similar action, the Philippines risks becoming a destination for vape products rejected by other countries.

“We fear we will become the dumping ground—as if a global ashtray—for vapes that other countries will reject,” the former officials said.

The group said its long-term goal is the eventual phaseout of all tobacco and nicotine products, including combustible cigarettes.

“At this critical moment, the fastest and most comprehensive way to stop the expansion of youth nicotine addiction is to remove vapes, heated tobacco products, and other electronic nicotine delivery systems from the market,” the statement said.

The signatories include former DOH secretaries Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Dr. Carmencita Reodica, Dr. Manuel Dayrit, Dr. Esperanza Cabral, Dr. Enrique Ona, Dr. Paulyn Rosell-Ubial, and Dr. Francisco Duque III.

Also joining the call are former DOH undersecretaries Atty. Alexander Padilla, Dr. David Lozada Jr., Dr. Madeleine Valera, and Dr. Mario Villaverde.

The seven former health secretaries span administrations from President Fidel Ramos to President Rodrigo Duterte, representing a rare cross-administration consensus on a public health issue.

They said Congress and the executive branch have the obligation to act decisively to protect Filipino youth from nicotine addiction and the health risks associated with vape products.

“The time to act is now,” the group said.