A public health advocacy group is urging the Philippine government to consider banning vape products, following the example of six Southeast Asian nations that have already imposed prohibitions.
The call was made by HealthJustice Philippines during the 25th anniversary celebration of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) in Bangkok, Thailand.
The event, dubbed “Tobacco Control Legacies,” gathered government officials, diplomats, and civil society advocates to highlight regional progress in tobacco control and recognize policy champions.
According to HealthJustice, six ASEAN member-states — Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam — have already implemented bans on vape products, signaling stronger regulatory action to safeguard public health, particularly among young people.
“The Philippines has much to learn from the tobacco control policies of our ASEAN neighbors which we honored in this event. Six ASEAN countries have already banned vapes, and it is high time that we follow their lead. We cannot afford more EVALI-related deaths, especially among our youth, who are the future of our nation,” HealthJustice president Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza said in a statement.
She added that while the region marks milestones in tobacco control, governments must sustain the momentum by pushing for more comprehensive policies.
HealthJustice noted that Southeast Asia has become the world’s third-largest vape market. In the Philippines, the group cited data showing that more than 14 percent of students aged 13 to 15 use vape products.
It also pointed to the country’s first recorded EVALI-related death in 2024 involving a 22-year-old man.
The group further raised concerns about tobacco industry interference, citing a recent report that showed such influence in the Philippines intensified in recent years, reaching a score of 70 in 2025 — the highest level recorded.
“Today, the tobacco industry continues to insert itself into policymaking through corporate social responsibility activities and the proliferation of youth-targeted products. We must carry on the torch and ensure that our policies truly prioritize the health of our people and remain free from the influence of harmful corporate agendas,” Fernandez-Mendoza said.
Meanwhile, advocacy group TobaccOFF NOW! Movement on February 10 welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) proposal to restrict certain vape products to protect the youth.
However, it maintained that only a total ban on all vaping and novel tobacco products would effectively protect public health.
The DTI earlier released a draft Department Administrative Order proposing a ban on open pod systems and e-liquids.
The agency is currently seeking feedback from stakeholders and consumers as it reviews the measure in light of growing health and safety concerns.