ASH Philippines

14/07/2026

Public Health Leaders Push for Stronger To***co and Ni****ne Laws to Protect Filipino Youth

As the country observed World No To***co Day (WNTD) last May 31, and National No Smoking Month (NNSM) in June, public health advocates, medical societies, and to***co control groups are urging Congress to advance a comprehensive legislative agenda to prevent youth addiction to to***co and ni****ne products.

Health advocates raised concern over the growing popularity of v**es, electronic smoking devices, and other novel ni****ne products, many of which are marketed through flavors, attractive packaging, and online promotions that appeal to young people.

The coalition called for stronger protections around schools, expanded smoke-free and v**e-free public spaces, higher to***co and ni****ne taxes, tougher action against illicit trade, and standardized (plain) packaging to reduce the appeal of to***co and ni****ne products.

Among the measures receiving support are Senate Bill No. 29, which strengthens protections around schools and youth-centered spaces, and House Bill No. 9603, authored by Rep. Krisel Lagman-Luistro, which expands smoke-free and v**e-free protections in public areas.

Dr. Maria Encarnita “Maricar” Limpin, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines, said the to***co and ni****ne industry continues to evolve its products and marketing strategies, making comprehensive policies more important than ever.

“Protecting Filipino children and young people requires a comprehensive approach—from school-zone protections and smoke-free environments to taxation, anti-illicit trade measures, and standardized packaging that removes product appeal,” Limpin said.

Roberto Del Rosario, President of the Framework Convention on To***co Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP), stressed the importance of keeping schools and youth spaces free from to***co and ni****ne marketing and sales.

Rep. Lagman-Luistro emphasized that stronger smoke-free and v**e-free laws are essential to protecting public health, noting that every Filipino has the right to breathe clean air.

Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia To***co Control Alliance (SEATCA), said regional experience shows that measures such as higher taxes, standardized packaging, advertising restrictions, and strong enforcement can reduce to***co use and youth initiation.

Medical organizations, including the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), Philippine Heart Association (PHA), and Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), also warned of the long-term health risks of to***co and ni****ne addiction and called for stronger safeguards to protect children and adolescents.

The coalition emphasized that youth protection measures, smoke-free laws, taxation, anti-illicit trade efforts, and standardized packaging should be pursued together as part of a comprehensive public health strategy to reduce to***co and ni****ne use and protect future.

***coDay



**eFreePhilippines

14/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ESTS5WHFy/

PRESS RELEASE | Groups Draw Attention to Cigarette Butts, the “Everywhere Plastic and Toxic Waste”

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As the plastic-free month is observed this July, the EcoWaste Coalition and the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH-Philippines) joined the “No Butts Day” to draw attention to cigarette butt pollution and the need for resolute measures to protect the people and environment from addictive and injurious to***co products and their byproduct litter, such as discarded plastic filters, the “everywhere plastic and toxic waste.”

Originating from the Netherlands, the No Butts Day’s volunteers across the globe collected and counted discarded cigarette filters to show the scale of the problem and to push for a ban on plastic filters to curb plastic and microplastic pollution. Last year, volunteers picked 964,000 cigarette butts from streets and nature, including 6,900 discarded filters collected by EcoWaste Coalition and ASH-Philippines.

A global ban on plastic cigarette filters is needed, the Dutch Plastic Cigarette Butt Collective said, as cellulose acetate-based butts 1) are not biodegradable and will break down into microplastics and nanoplastics, 2) are laden with hazardous substances that can leach into the environment (“one single cigarette butt can pollute up to 1,000 liters of water”), and 3) are poisonous to wildlife such as birds, fish and other animals who mistake butts for food and thus ingest plastic and hazardous chemicals.

[Access the full press release in the comments.]

31/05/2026

29/05/2026

Let's listen to Dr. Maricar Limpin explain how v**es cause lung injury and cancer...

How do V**es cause Lung Injury & Cancer? E-Cigarettes are Harmful (Health Updates Webinar #286)The rapid and pervasive adoption of electronic ni****ne delive...

24/05/2026

Ni****ne pouches, flavoured and appealing, are designed to hook young people. And these products evolve rapidly.

WHO is calling on governments to regulate them now.

Read the WHO Ni****ne Pouch report via the link in comments.

14/05/2026

"Acetaldehyde, Formaldehyde, Nitrobenzenes... eto yung mga cancer causing agents... na nakita na rin sa v**e. Nandiyaan yung iba't-iba pang mga other chemicals, at pati na rin yung mga heavy metals, katulad ng Lead. It can go to the brain. It can cause a lot of problems sa atin." ~ Dr. Maricar Blanco-Limpin (May 10, 2026)

**e

24/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1D2z9c33FL/

Health groups have filed complaints with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) questioning why unregulated ni****ne products continue to be sold and promoted.

ZYN brand ni****ne pouches have been touted as a healthier alternative to ci******es due to the absence of to***co and smoke. However, health experts warn that these products may still cause addiction and chronic disease.

Ni****ne and to***co products must be registered with the DTI in order to be sold legally in the country. However, ZYN has been sold in major local retailers since 2023 despite reportedly not being registered with the DTI.

The DTI has not commented on the matter. However, the agency released a document last April 8 containing initial guidelines on mandatory certification requirements for ni****ne pouches. The agency also held a public consultation on the issue in March 2026.

The complainants have also sought action on illegal promotions of to***co products that violate the V**e Law. ZYN, alongside v**e company IQOS, were documented to have sponsored the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City last January. The law prohibits promotion of v**e and to***co products at sports, concerts, cultural, or art events—especially where families and minors may be present.

Health experts have raised alarm over the rising number of minors using to***co products due to the popularity of v**es. Many children are attracted to va**ng due to flavors like bubblegum or cookies and cream. One in seven Filipino children aged 13 to 15—about 1.6 million adolescents—have reported using v**es, according to the 2019 Global Youth To***co Survey.

The complaints were filed by the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement, the Child Rights Network, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc., Action on Smoking and Health Philippines, Imagine Law, Parents Against V**e, Youth Against V**e, and HealthJustice.

Report by Kiara Gorrospe