MANILA — Alarmed by what it describes as a fast-spreading youth addiction crisis, the Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for a complete nationwide ban on vape products amid data showing that electronic cigarettes are hooking Filipino minors at unprecedented rates.
Rather than frame vaping solely as a public-health hazard, the DOH said the more urgent threat is the rapid penetration of these devices among children—fueled by aggressive marketing, sweetened flavors, and packaging that mimics toys and candies.
“Madalas na sinasabing walang nikotina at puwedeng alternatibo sa sigarilyo ang vape, pero puno ng kemikal at mapanganib ang usok at ang mismong aparato ng vape,” the agency said, warning that the products are far from the “safe alternative” narrative pushed by manufacturers and online sellers.
Citing the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, the DOH noted that seven in 10 Filipinos aged 13 to 15 were already using vape products, a figure it considers “extremely alarming” and indicative of a looming public-health emergency if left unaddressed.
Health officials likewise highlighted the serious medical risks associated with electronic cigarettes—hazardous aerosols, chemical-laden components, and the documented progression of users from vaping to traditional smoking. They also confirmed that the Philippines recently recorded its first death linked to prolonged vape use, involving an individual who had used the product daily for two years.
The DOH criticized how vape manufacturers market their products with fruity flavors and “kid-friendly aesthetics,” saying these tactics deliberately target minors and undermine national tobacco control efforts.
Authorities said they are strengthening coordination with global partners under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to curb the spread of vaping, while the DOH Health Promotion Bureau continues its community education drives in schools and workplaces to warn the public about the dangers of both vaping and traditional smoking.
The agency said a total ban is now necessary “to protect the next generation before the country faces an addiction epidemic that could have been prevented.”/PN
