New DOH chief urged to keep e-cigarettes in check

MANILA, Philippines — While tobacco control advocates welcomed the appointment of Teodoro Herbosa as Health Secretary, they urged the new cabinet member to strictly implement regulations against e-cigarettes.

In a joint statement, the HealthJustice Philippines, Parents Against Vape (PAV), Action for Economic Reforms (AER) and Philippine Legislator’s Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) said they are confident that Herbosa will continue to support strong tobacco control efforts, including increased funding for tobacco prevention and stronger regulation of e-cigarette use.

PAV, in particular, called for programs meant to keep in check e-cigarette use in the country.

The group cited a survey by the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), which revealed that one in seven Filipino students aged 13 to 15 said that they are currently using e-cigarettes.

“The GYTS offers compelling evidence that e-cigarettes and other tobacco products are widely accessible even when a law restricts access to minors. We call on Sec. Ted Herbosa to push for the strong implementation of laws that protect the youth against the harms of vaping and smoking,” PAV stressed.

Child Rights Network (CRN) and the PAV had also urged the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to take immediate action to protect the children’s right to health and an environment free from tobacco and nicotine.

Among the suggestions of the advocacy groups is for DepEd and CHED to release guidelines to ensure that the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes is not conducted within a 200-meter radius of schools.

Meanwhile, the tobacco control advocates reiterated their support for Herbosa, whose appointment came 18 months after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022.

“We have great confidence in Secretary Ted Herbosa’s leadership to address pressing issues of DOH, and the health sector, including the tobacco epidemic in the Philippines, to achieve a healthy country,” the group said.

They cited Herbosa’s strong backing of six tax measures on tobacco products during his stint as DOH undersecretary under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

It can be recalled that in a