ALBAY, Philippines – On May 31, World No Tobacco Day, local and regional groups called for a ban on vapes and other tobacco products positioned as “safer” alternatives to cigarettes, amid the prevalence of their use among youth and young adults in the Philippines.
“National government agencies should support implementation by allocating funds for tobacco control and smoking cessation services, implementing a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion, developing behavioral change campaigns, and creating a positive environment for youth,” said Ralph Degollacion, project manager of HealthJustice, a local group that aims to integrate law and health in the Philippines.
In a survey conducted by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Global Tobacco Control in 2023, it was found that more than 1.21 million Filipino youth who tried smoking at a very young age – usually between 13 and 15 – switched to vaping, while at least 1.63 million Filipino adults were also vaping users.
“The prevalence of smoking among young people can be mainly attributed to the huge growth in the use of vapes and heated tobacco products. Several independent scientific studies have confirmed that vaping is a gateway to smoking or even dual use,” Degollacion told Rappler in an email.
The Global Status of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR), which maps the global use of nicotine products, the local regulatory response, and the potential impact on public health, was also reported. that estimated 1.7 million users of vapes and 16.4 million smokers in the Philippines, based on data from its 2024 report.
This is a huge jump from a decade ago, when only an estimated 537,000 vape users were reported in 2015.
Cigarette users also increased from 14 million users in 2021.
In 2019, the Global Youth Tobacco Study (GYTS)the world-renowned tobacco control and monitoring system, reported that there were at least 10% of children aged 13 to 15 in the Philippines who smoked cigarettes, while 14.1% used e-cigarettes such as vapes.
GYTS and GSTHR have not yet updated their data on the prevalence of tobacco use in the Philippines.
This has led to many groups, like TobaccoOFF NowThe youth-led movement advocating urgent intervention against tobacco addiction, along with their nearly 200 partners, demanded “quick and decisive” action on key tobacco policies to address the problem.
“We urgently call for an immediate ban on vapes and e-cigarettes because these dangerous products serve as a starting point for our youth,” the group said.
Echoing this sentiment, HealthJustice also pointed out: “Kids still have easy access to the products…The Philippines should immediately ban vapes and other nicotine delivery products, as eight other ASEAN nations have done.”
TobaccoOFF Now and HealthJustice are calling on the government to force tobacco companies to remove all flavors, packaging designs and advertising from their products aimed at youth.
South East Asian Association for Tobacco Control (SEATCA), a non-governmental organization that helps ASEAN countries implement the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, said a problem with the popularity of vapes is how they are packaged and distributed as a “safe alternative” to cigarettes.
“Harm reduction is about keeping people safe and not replacing harm with other harms,” SEATCA executive director Ulysses Dorotheo said in his statement for World No Tobacco Day 2026.
Dorotheo said that “if tobacco companies really wanted a ‘smokeless future,’ they would have stopped making and selling cigarettes yesterday.
“Instead, we see the industry using the language of public health to promote its new toxic and addictive products as the ‘solution’ to the chronic smoking problem,” he added.
Public health hazards
Former Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) Esperanza Cabral said that the increase in the level of smoking and vapor poses a great risk to public health. According to him, both habits lead to several respiratory health issues, which according to the WHO, are regularly listed among the leading causes of death among Filipinos.
“While traditional tobacco smoke damages the lungs by inhaling tar, carbon monoxide, and a myriad of toxic chemicals produced by combustion, vapor poses unique psychological threats,” Cabral told Rappler in a message.
According to WHO data, there are at least 64,525 deaths recorded associated with respiratory problems in the Philippines in 2025 alone. Experts warn that the continued use of tobacco and electronic cigarettes in large quantities increases the risk develop these serious respiratory diseases.
Cabral noted that in addition to exposing these false narratives, the government must take an effective approach in the fight against tobacco addiction. He proposed raising the legal smoking age from 21 to 25 and raising taxes to raise the price of e-cigarettes (READ: DOH, health experts push for vaping ban to protect youth)
A reactive solution
January 2026 study and SEATCA links the widespread use of tobacco products to the increased market sales of recreational nicotine products, where The Philippines ranked second and continues to trail only Indonesia in the region.
SEATCA reported that in 2024 onlythe country sold 90 billion cigarette sticks, 1.3 billion vape devices, and another 3.2 billion heated tobacco products (HTPs).
Although there are existing laws governing tobacco products, the government still does not have the authority to force manufacturers to disclose the content and emissions of their products. On the other hand, the legal age of access to these products remains as low as 18, well below the 25-year age limit recommended by health advocacy groups.
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kidsan international organization that provides technical assistance on tobacco control laws to governments and civil society, said: “The law does not require that manufacturers and importers disclose to government authorities information about the content and delivery of their products… There are also no restrictions on internet sales or the sale of single cigarettes. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 21.” – Rappler.com
