Citing a public health crisis among the Filipino youth, several senators are now advocating for a total ban on vaporized nicotine products, aligning with the Department of Health’s (DOH) stance to shift from regulation to absolute prohibition.
Senator Pia Cayetano highlighted that the Philippines is becoming an outlier in the region, noting that eight Southeast Asian neighbors—including Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—have already implemented total bans.
“Eight (8) of our Southeast Asian neighbors — Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, and Myanmar — have implemented total bans. There are sound reasons for this shift, especially because evidence shows that our kids are getting addicted to these products,” Cayetano said.
Data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) supports this concern, revealing a staggering spike in e-cigarette use among Filipino adolescents, which jumped from a mere 0.08% in 2015 to nearly 40% in 2023.
“We must be willing to explore all options from banning to stricter regulations. It is only right that we act decisively to strengthen protections and safeguard our kids from harm,” she stressed.
During a Senate hearing on May 6, Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros expressed regret over the 2022 enactment of the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act (RA 11900), suggesting that the law’s safeguards have failed to prevent children as young as 13 from accessing the products.
“Bakit nga ba? Ito’y dahil ang vape products ay attractive, available, at affordable. Madali silang makabili. Madali silang ma-expose. At madali silang ma engganyo,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros lamented the ease of online transactions, where age verification is easily bypassed through social media and delivery apps.
“Online, isang click lang—‘I am 18’—at may delivery na o sa isang ‘PM’ lang, makakaiskor na agad sa sellers na nasa iba’t ibang social media platform. Walang totoong age verification, walang accountability,” she lamented.
The senator concluded that the current situation is more than just a failure of enforcement.
“Malinaw, hindi na ito simpleng implementation gap. Ito ay malinaw na disconnect sa pagitan ng policy design at ng lived reality,” she pointed out.
Dr. Dominic Maddumba of the DOH Health Promotion Bureau demonstrated the gravity of the problem by testifying that the agency successfully purchased vapes online using fake accounts and simple keyword bypasses like “V P E.”
“Even though there are regulations and restrictions on online sale, hindi po nakakasabay, hindi nakakasabay sa pace natin. I think the most logical thing to do to simplify the enforcement and the regulation to total banning it,” the doctor stressed.