Ilongga Girl Scouts lead anti-vaping campaign in Iloilo

With vaping now described as the “new epidemic” among youth, Ilongga Girl Scouts took a strong stand against the growing threat during the Senior-Cadet Planning Board Conference held from Aug. 20–31, 2025, at the Iloilo Girl Scout Council in Magsaysay Village, La Paz, Iloilo City.

A total of 103 Senior and Cadet Girl Scouts, along with 10 adult leaders, participated in the conference, voicing their commitment to a vape-free generation.

One of the event’s highlights was the session “Anti-Vaping: Ilongga Scouts Against Vape,” which featured two key discussions: The New Epidemic of Vaping and the newly launched TobaccOFF Now campaign.

Jeus Rey Padilla, senior project coordinator of the Smoke-Free Vape-Free Network Western Visayas, opened the session by shedding light on the alarming rise of e-cigarette use among Filipino youth.

He discussed the health risks posed by vaping and the manipulative tactics used by the tobacco industry, emphasizing the need to equip young people to resist these influences and lead in creating smoke-free and vape-free communities.

Irrah Kirstien J. Davocol, communications officer for the network and a TobaccOFF Now community patroller, followed with a presentation on the campaign, which was launched by the Positive Youth Development Network (PYDN) in June 2025.

She explained that TobaccOFF Now is a youth-led movement designed to expose and counter the deceptive strategies of the tobacco and vape industries.

The campaign’s goals are to uncover how the industry targets youth, provide tools and knowledge to make informed choices, reclaim youth spaces from industry influence, and amplify youth voices demanding stronger regulations.

A key message of the Ilongga Scouts Against Vaping initiative is transforming peer pressure into peer power, positioning young women as role models who can inspire healthy, smoke-free lifestyles.

During the session, participants shared real-life observations of vaping in schools and communities and pledged to promote vape-free living in their own circles.

They also committed to supporting youth-led initiatives like TobaccOFF Now in creating sustainable advocacy efforts.

The Senior-Cadet Planning Board Conference has long empowered Girl Scouts to take leadership roles within their organization, and this year’s anti-vaping theme highlights their evolving commitment to pressing health and social issues.

With the rallying cry “Ilongga Scouts Against Vape,” delegates left the conference motivated to carry the advocacy forward, demonstrating that youth voices remain a powerful force for positive change.