By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA – The Philippines should join the ranks of its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors that have adopted stricter regulations, including a total ban on e-cigarettes and vapes, a public health advocacy group said Thursday.
HealthJustice’s call to action came after Vietnam National Assembly’s approval of a resolution banning the production, trade, importation, storage, transportation and use of e-cigarettes starting 2025.
Vietnam joined over 30 countries and jurisdictions worldwide that have banned electronic smoking devices.
“The growing momentum across Southeast Asia to ban e-cigarettes or vapes presents a critical opportunity for the Philippines to act,” former Health Secretary and Board Member of HealthJustice Jaime Galvez Tan said in a statement.
“By adopting stronger regulations, the Philippines can align itself with its regional neighbors in prioritizing the health of its citizens and protecting the next generation from the harms of nicotine addiction. Now is the time for policymakers to act decisively to safeguard public health,” he added.
Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei were pioneers of comprehensive bans on e-cigarettes and vapes, setting a strong precedent for the region.
Vapes and heated tobacco products are often marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes. Nonetheless, health experts have linked them 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. This exposes them to nicotine addiction and harmful chemicals.
The 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey showed that one in seven Filipino students aged 13 to 15 use vapes, or approximately 1.6 million adolescents.
The country has recorded its first death due to e-cigarette or vaping-use-associated lung injury last May. (PNA)
