PH urged to follow stronger tobacco control policies on SEATCA’s 25th Anniversary Legacy Awards
February 18, 2026A call on President Marcos and Congress to protect the health of our people: End Nicotine Addiction, Starting with a Vape Ban
March 13, 2026
Public health groups urged the Philippine government to impose an absolute ban on e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and other nicotine delivery products, citing their health harms and increasing accessibility, particularly to the youth. The call was made after Myanmar officially became the eighth ASEAN country to implement a vape ban, and amid current deliberations in the Philippine Congress regarding tobacco and vape taxes.
“While our legislators are still debating tax rates for vapes and other nicotine delivery products, Myanmar has joined seven other ASEAN countries in implementing a total vape ban. While we support calls for higher and uniform taxes for all tobacco products as a step towards restricting these products, we also stand firm in pushing for a comprehensive ban. Such a measure will provide the strongest protection for public health and ensure administrative and regulatory clarity,” said Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Board Member of HealthJustice and former Health Secretary.
Southeast Asia is confronting a rapid proliferation of vape products, particularly among youths. In response, eight ASEAN member states – with Myanmar as the latest – have already implemented vape bans.
“We commend Myanmar for showing that our region is taking steps to combat the growing “vapedemic”. If Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam have already implemented a comprehensive vape ban, the Philippines can too. This is the ideal step our government must undertake to prevent illnesses and deaths related to tobacco or vape use,” Galvez Tan added.
According to the data from Institute for Global Tobacco Control in 2019 and 2021, about 14% (1.21 million) of Filipino youths and 2% (1.63 million) of adults use e-cigarettes. Alarmingly, 70% of surveyed youth believe e-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes, while nearly 51% reported using e-cigarettes to reduce or quit smoking.
In 2024, the Philippines recorded its first death linked to E-cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), that of a 22-year-old male with no prior smoking history but with two years of consistent vape use.
“E-cigarettes are falsely marketed as harm-reduction and smoking cessation tools. In reality, e-cigarette liquids and aerosols are toxic. Nicotine can raise blood pressure and heart rate, suppress the immune response, and promote cancer development, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavorings, when inhaled, irritate the airways and damage lung tissue, causing chronic respiratory diseases,” said Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA).
The Philippines is a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which encourages Parties to adopt stricter measures beyond the treaty’s obligations, which the groups emphasize include a total ban.
“Higher taxes on harmful products can discourage consumption but if we truly want to protect public health, a total ban is the strongest measure the government can take to stop this worsening tobacco and vape epidemic,” he added.
The groups stressed that a total ban will also avoid tax administration challenges raised by government agencies, and efforts can be focused on countering illicit trade. In 2025, the Department of Health (DOH) already called for a nationwide total ban on vape products, citing its link to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other lung illnesses.
“The DOH agrees with an e-cigarette ban. As the country’s foremost health authority, its recommendations must guide national health policies and translate into concrete action to stop the growing “vapedemic,” following the lead of fellow ASEAN member states that have already banned e-cigarettes. Governments should maximize this opportunity to avoid repeating the historical mistake made with conventional cigarettes. In doing so, it can reaffirm our country’s leadership in global tobacco control and uphold its obligations as a committed Party to the WHO FCTC,” Dorotheo concluded.
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Mariz Amante Wee
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Anelle Cortez
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