Youth groups press for Philippine vape ban

More than 60 youth groups and health advocates are urging the Philippine government to impose an absolute ban on vape products, aligning their appeal with World Health Day and backing the Department of Health’s call for stricter action against electronic cigarettes.

World Health Day is observed every April 7, and this year’s World Health Organization theme is “Together for health. Stand with science.”

HealthJustice Philippines said the push reflects growing concern over what advocates described as a “vapedemic” affecting Filipino youth.

“We applaud our young generation of leaders for standing united to urgently call for an end to the vapedemic plaguing our Filipino youth. We cannot afford to treat this as a low-priority issue. Our government leaders should act fast because vapes should have no place in our country,” said Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, former Health secretary and board member of HealthJustice.

Galvez Tan added, “An absolute ban puts an end to the cycle of misinformation about vapes, and prevents any further threat to the health of young Filipinos.”

The call was reinforced in an open letter to the Philippine government signed by more than 60 youth groups and health advocates from around the world, with Global Youth Voices expressing support for the Department of Health’s position to totally ban vapes and urging the Philippines to catch up with its ASEAN neighbors.

Rizza Duro, national coordinator of the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement Youth, which is part of Global Youth Voices, said “The Philippine’s Health Secretary has made his pronouncement calling for a total vape ban. Lawmakers should take this as a strong signal to follow through with a policy that will prevent any more devastating damage to the health of young people caused by vaping. This offers the Philippines a chance to adopt a bold measure, similar to those implemented by other countries in the ASEAN region.”

In their appeal, the groups asked policymakers to adopt measures that prevent the expansion of and prohibit novel nicotine products that risk creating a new generation of nicotine users.

They also called for safeguards to protect health policymaking from tobacco industry interference, consistent with Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

In addition, they urged the government to uphold its responsibility to protect youth health and future generations.

“Decisions taken today will shape the health environment that young people inherit tomorrow. We hope the Philippine government will act fast to protect public health and safeguard future generations,” the open letter concluded.

The demand comes as the Department of Health has continued to push for a total ban on e-cigarettes and vape products, arguing that existing regulation has not stopped young people from accessing them. At a Senate hearing in March, Health Promotion Bureau Director Maria Kristina May L. Marasigan said minors and young users were still able to buy vape products despite current restrictions, while some products being sold were not registered.

The Philippines currently regulates vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products under Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act. The law set the framework for sales, distribution, packaging and use restrictions, but health advocates have argued that regulation alone has fallen short of protecting the public, especially the youth.

Regional comparisons have become a key part of the anti-vape campaign. At the same March Senate hearing, the Department of Health said eight of 11 ASEAN countries — Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Myanmar — had already implemented total vape bans.

The reference to Article 5.3 of the WHO tobacco control treaty underscores another major concern for health advocates: insulating public health policy from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry. WHO guidelines say governments should implement comprehensive and effective measures across all branches of government to prevent industry interference in tobacco control policymaking.

For advocates behind the latest appeal, the issue is not only regulation but prevention.

They argue that banning vapes outright would stop the spread of new nicotine products, reduce youth exposure and send a stronger public health message at a time when the government is facing renewed pressure to act.