Senator Urges Stronger Regulation and Unity Against Tobacco and Vape Industry Irregularities

Senator Pia Cayetano has demanded more robust regulatory actions and a cohesive approach to tackle the reported issues within the tobacco and vape sectors. This call to action follows the Philippines’ receipt of its fifth ‘Dirty Ashtray Award’ at the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Conference of the Parties. As the head of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, Cayetano is seeking clear delineations of responsibilities among agencies tasked with enforcing the Vape Law and safeguarding public health. She pointed out that the Department of Trade and Industry, responsible for product safety under the Vape Law, is ill-equipped to manage the health safety aspects of vape regulation, as it can only test devices, batteries, and chargers, not the chemical contents, a task better suited to the Food and Drug Administration, which has the necessary expertise. Cayetano suggested that the Department of Health should lead future delegations to prioritize public health interests and fulfill obligations under the FCTC. She emphasized the need for all government agencies to work together to protect vulnerable groups, especially the youth, from tobacco use, warning that failure to do so would be a misuse of public funds. Additionally, she condemned the tobacco industry for using misinformation, aggressive marketing, and lobbying to undermine public health policies, describing these as long-standing tactics to delay regulation, exploit loopholes, and normalize dangerous products.