Health advocates, industry representatives and consumer groups joined forces on Wednesday in Manila to sign a manifesto for a Smoke-Free Philippines, urging tobacco harm reduction as a core public health policy.
The manifesto, signed at the Harm Reduction and Nicotine Summit by representatives from the health, industry and civil society sectors, calls for a unified effort to empower Filipinos to make informed choices through science-based alternatives to combustible tobacco.
Signatories emphasized that tobacco harm reduction offers a lifeline for adult smokers who cannot quit, stressing the need for access to accurate, science-based information on less harmful alternatives.
They also called for the inclusion of consumer voices in policymaking, especially those who have successfully transitioned to smoke-free products.
The groups urged regulators to reconsider bans and excessive restrictions on these alternatives, warning such measures could push consumers back toward smoking or unregulated markets.
They also defended the Vape Law (Republic Act 11900) as a recognition of the Philippines’ national sovereignty and commitment to public health through regulation of smoke-free products.
“We hope for a future where Filipinos choose to live smoke-free because they are empowered with better choices instead of continuing to smoke harmful cigarettes,” said Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP) president Anton Israel.
NCUP is a nonprofit national advocacy organization that seeks to challenge negative stereotypes against smokers and vapers while championing evidence-based harm reduction policies.
The summit’s participants pressed for a multisectoral approach involving public health experts, scientists, consumers and industry stakeholders to craft effective, compassionate and evidence-based policies. “Together, we can protect our right to choose and protect our future. Let us build a smoke-free Philippines, one informed choice at a time,” the manifesto read.
