Smoking in Philippines
The Philippines legally allows cigarettes for sale, smoke, and import for trade with some restrictions and regulations. While tobacco advertising is regulated, there is not a complete ban on all forms of advertising. Cigarettes can be purchased both online and from vending machines. However, the law requires health warnings on all packaging, sets a minimum age of 18 years for sales, and includes legal restrictions on smoking in public places, such as healthcare and educational facilities. Cigarettes are subject to a 39.86% specific excise tax, and the total taxation rate is 50.57%. Tobacco smoking remains a significant public health concern in the Philippines. As of 2024, the current prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was 19.7%, with a notable gender disparity. The current prevalence of smoking was 35.6% among males and 4.2% among females in 2024. The total number of smokers was reported to be approximately 16.3 million individuals in 2024. Comparing these figures to earlier data from 2021, the smoking prevalence among males was 33.3%, while among females it was 3.7%. The adult daily smoking prevalence in 2021 was 14.5%, with a prevalence of 26.3% among males and 2.6% among females. Smoking-related mortalities are a critical public health issue in the Philippines. 88,169 deaths were attributable to smoking in 2021, accounting for 10% of all deaths in the country in that year. The data also indicate that smoking-related deaths comprised 13.34% of all male deaths and 5.26% of all female deaths in 2021 in the country. These statistics underscore the urgent need for effective public health interventions to address the high smoking rates and associated health consequences in the Philippines.
Read articles from Philippines
June 09, 2022 by panaynews.net
To vape or not to vape
THE Child Rights Network (CRN) reiterates its position that the Vape Bill essentially relaxes regulations on the sale, distribution, use, and promotion of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or e-cigarettes, and vaporized nicotine products (VNPs), giving the tobacco industry a free pass to reach even children.
Sponsors of the bill parrot the tobacco industry’s line that the Vape Bill seeks to strengthen regulations to discourage minors from using cigarette alternatives. This is far from the truth.
June 08, 2022 by philstar.com
Medical groups renew call for veto of vape bill
Medical groups renewed their appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to veto a proposed measure seeking to lower the age of access to vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products to 18 from 21.
In a briefing Wednesday, doctors from various medical societies stressed that lowering the age of access to vapor products will expose Filipinos, especially the youth, to harmful substances. Dr. Minerva Calimag, president of the Philippine Medical Association, said [...]
“We oppose the vape bill because we cannot risk endangering the health and safety of Filipinos, especially the youth,” [...]
May 13, 2022 by scoop.co.nz
Signing Vape Bill Will Ensure Legacy For Philippine Preside
“Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will create an enduring legacy by signing the Vape Bill into law before he leaves office, and we are confident he’ll do just that,” says Peter Dator, President of consumer group Vapers PH and CAPHRA member.
CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates) has joined other vaping advocates encouraging the outgoing President to approve legislation to give the green light to less harmful nicotine alternatives.
April 28, 2022 by inquirer.net
Doctors welcome vape bill’s final version, say it will save smokers’ lives
Medical experts welcomed the final version of the vape bill, saying this will strictly regulate e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, protect the youth and save smokers’ lives.
This followed the publication last week of the details of the final version of the vape bill and its key provisions particularly those meant to protect the minors and regulate the sale, advertising and public use of vapor products and HTPs which are considered less harmful alternatives to combustible cigarettes.
April 20, 2022 by inquirer.net
PH asked to follow UK approach in reducing smoking rate
MANILA, Philippines — The vape bill will give the Philippines an opportunity to replicate the liberal approach of the United Kingdom in addressing the smoking epidemic by providing smokers with less harmful alternatives, according to the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP).
In a letter, the BCCP urged President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the vape bill into law, following its approval by the two chambers of Congress. “The liberal approach to vaping of the UK government has led to a significant reduction in smoking rates,” Chris Nelson, BCCP executive director and trustee, said in the letter.
March 24, 2022 by manilatimes.net
President Duterte must veto vape bill
IN spite of warnings from a multitude of health experts, including international institutions such as the World Health Organization and our own Department of Health and Department of Education, Congress has rejected good sense and concern for Filipinos' well-being in passing the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act. The bill now only waits for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature to become law. We are once again adding our voice to those urgently calling on the President to correct the grave mistake on the part of the legislature, and veto the proposed law in its entirety.
March 23, 2022 by vapingpost.com
Survey: 9 of 10 Philippines Smokers Support Tobacco Harm Reduction
[...] the study confirmed the wide public support for tobacco harm reduction. “Majority have positive perception, would consider switching to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and would like to have greater access to accurate information about these products,” said ACORN.
The compiled data indicated that about 70% of 2,000 respondents believe that e-cigarettes and HTPs are better alternatives to cigarettes, and 88% of adult smokers would consider switching to smoke-free alternative products. Moreover, 94% believe that the local government should set in place policies encouraging smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, [...]
March 18, 2022 by inquirer.net
DepEd urges Duterte to veto vape bill
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to veto a bill that aims to lower the age of access to vaporized nicotine (vape) and non-nicotine products as well as novel tobacco products.
“As a government institution championing young Filipinos’ well-being, we are taking a stand against the so-called ‘anti-health’ vape bill, which will weaken existing law and the executive order against Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) or Electronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENNDS) commonly known as e-cigarettes or ‘vapes,’” DepEd said in a statement.
March 16, 2022 by 24shareupdates.com
Smoke-free products to help Philippines reduce healthcare expenditures, say experts
Making e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products available as less harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes for millions of Filipino smokers will enable the government to reduce the smoking rate and manage healthcare expenditures, international public health policy experts said. “If we accelerate the declining smoking rate, this will over time reduce healthcare expenditure. Adding vaping to existing tobacco control policies will help accelerate the decline in smoking rates. I very much hope that the Philippines will make it easy for smokers to switch to vaping. This will also require risk proportionate regulation,” said harm reduction advocate Dr. Alex Wodak.
March 10, 2022 by inquirer.net
Groups urge Duterte to veto vape bill
Groups opposed to the sale of vape products to minors have appealed to President Duterte to veto Senate Bill 2239 or the Vape Bill of 2022 already approved by the Senate in December last year.
More than 5,000 people have signed the petition opposing the bill and appealing to the President to veto it, according to the Davao City-based Parents Against Vape (PAV), an alliance of parents, teachers, public health experts, and community groups based in Davao and Samal Island.