EDITORIAL — Poisoning FilipinosBack in December 2021, at least 43 medical organizations including the Philippine Medical Association had urged then president Rodrigo Duterte to veto a bill liberalizing the vaporized nicotine industry. Myanmar recently became the eighth in ASEAN to ban vapes. Last year, the Department of Health called for a nationwide total vape ban, citing the link of e-cigarettes to cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. “Why will I give poison to Filipinos and the youth?” he said as he warned of life-threatening EVALI or e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury. After two years of promoting nicotine addiction, it’s time for the government to listen to the health experts and ban vapes.

Source: Philippine Star March 01, 2026 16:35 UTC