ILOILO — Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has urged Congress to immediately enact the proposed Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Bill, warning that local smoke-free ordinances alone are no longer enough to protect Filipinos — particularly children — from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and vape aerosols.
Throwing his support behind the nationwide campaign led by Baguio City’s Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Defensor said only a uniform national law can ensure consistent enforcement of smoke-free and vape-free policies in schools, parks, markets, workplaces and other public spaces across the country.
“As governor of the province of Iloilo, I fully support the position of Mayor Benjamin Magalong in urging Congress to pass Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Bill. This measure is not about regulation, it is about protecting the health and the future of our people, especially our youth,” Defensor said.
Defensor echoed Magalong’s position that while local government units have made significant progress in implementing smoke-free ordinances, a national law is necessary to close policy gaps and establish uniform standards nationwide.
“The bill will hell safeguard our schools, parks, markets, work places and public spaces from harm effect from second hand smoke and Vape aerosols. We humbly ask Congress, please pass the Smoke Free and Vape-Free Environment Bill for cleaner air, healthier lives, and brighter tomorrow for province of Iloilo and the nation. Let us chose a healthy environment for our children,” Defensor added.
Magalong described the proposed legislation as a timely and necessary measure that would build on the gains achieved by local governments, particularly Baguio City, which has long been recognized for pioneering smoke-free policies.
“I have always believed that we have to do what is right. This guiding principle has shaped our governance in Baguio, particularly in our long-standing commitment to protect public health and promote a smoke-free environment,” Magalong said.
He said Baguio’s smoke-free program has been strengthened over the years through anti-smoking ordinances, executive issuances, stronger local legislation and sustained enforcement campaigns.
The Child Rights Network (CRN) said House Bill 9603, or the proposed Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Act, seeks to establish a strict national public health standard by banning smoking and vaping in enclosed workplaces, public transportation and public spaces frequently visited by children.
The proposed measure comes amid continuing concerns over widespread exposure to tobacco smoke. The 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey estimated that 2.5 million adult Filipinos are exposed to tobacco smoke in enclosed workplaces, while another 4.2 million are exposed inside public transportation vehicles.
Meanwhile, the 2023 National Nutrition Survey estimated that 1.5 million Filipinos now use e-cigarettes or vapes, exposing people in shared spaces to chemical aerosols.
CRN convener Au Quilala, executive director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, said more than 40 percent of Filipino youth are regularly exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke in enclosed public places.
“We enjoin all our legislators to support this bill in fulfillment of our shared responsibility to protect children’s health,” Quilala said.
To strengthen enforcement, House Bill 9603 proposes the R.E.L.A.T.E. framework, which includes the removal of indoor smoking and vaping areas, expansion of smoke-free zones, dedicated local health funding for tobacco and vape control programs, incentives for compliant local government units, creation of LGU enforcement task forces, and tougher penalties for violators.
Philippine Smoke-Free Movement National Coordinator Rizza Duro said the proposed law would also strengthen public education campaigns and help local governments build their enforcement capacity.
“The goal is to change behavior, promote public health, and protect our most vulnerable, the children,” Duro said.
Advocates noted that tobacco-related diseases claim more than 112,000 Filipino lives each year, while smoking costs the country an estimated P210 billion annually in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
Social Watch Philippines co-convener Dr. Victoria Raquiza said the bill’s funding mechanism is critical to sustaining clean indoor air initiatives and preventing years of progress in tobacco control from being reversed.
The proposed legislation has gained support from several local governments, including Baguio, Tabaco, Davao, Balanga, Iloilo and Butuan, which have already implemented pioneering smoke-free policies./PN
