The Department of Health (DOH) and several anti-smoking and anti-vaping groups wrapped up the “No Smoking” month in June urging everyone to unite and ensure a smoke-free Philippines.
In a statement released on Sunday, the DOH reminded Filipinos that “sa bisyo, walang panalo” (in vice, there are no winners). Health officials strongly encouraged all citizens to “love yourself and care for others by not smoking or vaping.”
The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), Social Watch Philippines (SWP), and the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement (PSFM) recently launched an awareness campaign highlighting the harmful effects of smoking and vaping, especially among the youth.
“Let every month be a no-smoking month, so that we can build an environment free from tobacco,” said PLCPD Deputy Executive Director Au Quilala. She called for continuous local government support for early prevention activities to protect children from the tobacco industry’s allure.
PSFM National Coordinator Riza Duro highlighted the urgency of the issue by pointing to the first “vape-related death” in the country. She emphasized the need for strict regulations on the sale and marketing of vapes to prevent the youth from getting hooked.
The campaign is backed by Presidential Proclamation No. 183, declaring June as “National No-Smoking Month.”
Advocacy group Parents Against Vape (PAV) stressed that vaping is not a legitimate cessation tool, contrary to industry claims. They argue that vaping merely shifts users from one deadly habit to another.
The 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that one in seven Filipino youths aged 13 to 15 use vapes. PAV believes this number could be even higher today, given the rapid spread of vape shops across the country.
PAV is pushing for amendments to Republic Act 11900, also known as the Vape Law. Their recommendations include raising the legal age for vape access from 18 to 21, restricting vape flavors to menthol and tobacco, and returning regulatory power to the Food and Drug Administration.
The World Health Organization (WHO) supports these efforts, noting that quitting smoking reduces the risk of numerous diseases linked to second-hand smoke in children, including respiratory illnesses like asthma and ear infections.