Youth anti-tobacco drive launches manifesto on World Lung Day

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By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

PASIG CITY — The TobacOFF NOW! campaign, a youth-led movement exposing deceptive practices by the tobacco industry, marked World Lung Day on Thursday, Sept. 25, by launching a national manifesto urging policymakers to address the public health harms of tobacco use.

The manifesto, backed by youth groups across the country, outlined six key demands aimed at curbing nicotine addiction and holding industry players accountable.

The demands include raising the minimum age for all nicotine-based products to 21, eliminating flavors from e-cigarettes, vapes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and similar products.

It also called for banning youth-appealing packaging and sleek device designs often used to market to minors.

The youth groups urged stronger regulation of nicotine product distribution, particularly through social media and e-commerce, with strict penalties for sellers targeting minors.

They demanded comprehensive advertising bans and higher taxes on all nicotine-based products.

“We have seen the alarming rise of a new generation hooked on traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes/vapes, and other nicotine-based products, with 1 in 7 Filipino youth having tried e-cigarettes/vapes at least once in their lives,” the manifesto stated.

“We demand accountability from those who profit from our suffering and courage from those who govern our nation to make us, the young people of this country, your priority.”

The statement cited the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control as its guiding framework, calling it the world’s first public health treaty against the tobacco epidemic.

The Positive Youth Development Network led the manifesto initiative, joined by 79 youth organizations and 100 community partners nationwide.

In Western Visayas, co-signatories include the Association of Respiratory Care Practitioners Philippines Western Visayas, Iloilo Girl Scout Council, Smoke-Free Vape-Free Network Western Visayas, University of the Philippines Visayas Magnates, UPV Marketing Society Inc., and West Visayas State University-University Students Alliance.

Other partners include Central Philippine University–Junior Marketers Association, Forum-Dimensions, JBLFMU-Molo Team Dugong Bughaw, Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines Miagao Chapter, Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition–Aklan, SOS Children’s Village Iloilo, TDB-GEN 8, Team Dugong Bughaw-UPV, WVSU University Student Council, WVSU-USA, WVSU-Young Journalists’ Society, and WVSU-Youth for Peers Organization.

TobacOFF NOW! campaign lead Vonn Vincent Tanchuan said the manifesto was shaped by consultations held with youth groups across the country in recent months.

“Our objective for this is to develop a collective youth position against the tobacco [industry’s] interference, demanding immediate and decisive action on key policies and tobacco control areas that can further protect our young people from the manipulative and deceptive tactics of the big tobacco brands, ensuring our healthier future,” Tanchuan said during the launch.

The TobacOFF NOW! campaign also aims to gather at least 15,000 youth signatures for the manifesto by the end of 2025, while continuing to mobilize young people across the country in support of stronger tobacco control.