By Liza Agoot
BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Monday warned that the city government will crack down on illegal vape sales to protect residents from the health risks of smoking and vaping.
“No illegal activity will thrive without being apprehended. We will stop them because we know Baguio residents support a healthy city,” Magalong said during the Cordillera Migrants’ Day celebration.
The mayor stressed that the city’s anti-smoking and anti-vaping stance remains uncompromising.
On June 5, the Smoke-Free Task Force—working with the Baguio City Police Office Intelligence Unit and the Health Services Office’s Environmental Health and Sanitation Division—confiscated roughly PHP600,000 worth of vape pods and batteries from a social media influencer who had solicited vape retailers in Baguio, La Trinidad, and Benguet via online posts.
The violator received a citation ticket, and all products were seized.
“This operation is a clear warning to online sellers and influencers,” Magalong said, thanking citizens who report violations.
Baguio’s Smoke-Free Ordinance bans the use, sale, distribution, and advertising of tobacco and vape products in certain areas.
In an earlier press conference, Public Order and Safety Division official Darryl Longid, said no vape shops are legally registered in the city, prompting sellers to operate online—beyond the city’s direct regulatory reach.
Pulmonologist Dr. Roel Revilla, for his part, said the American College of Chest Physicians is conducting a year-long study in Baguio to gather local data on the health effects of smoking and vaping, which will inform future policy proposals.
City health officials reported that cigarette use fell from 35.4 percent in 2014 to 13.1 percent as of May 2025, but many users — including students — have shifted to vaping, prompting intensified enforcement against both habits. (PNA)
