DOH, student council unite in drive against youth smoking and vaping

The Department of Health (DOH) has joined forces with the country’s first Anti-Vape and Anti-Tobacco Student Council, underscoring a stronger push to protect young Filipinos from the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.

In a news release last week, the DOH said the council is composed of young advocates from Eusebio High School in Pasig City, where it held a health literacy campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and vaping.

“Aminado ang mga student leaders ng Eusebio High School na may kilala silang mga kaibigan at ka-edad na naninigarilyo at gumagamit ng vape (The student leaders of Eusebio High School admit that they have friends and fellow students who smoke and vape),” the DOH said.

“Kaya nais din nilang magkaroon ng boses sa paaralan para kontrahin ang mapanlinlang na marketing strategy ng vape at tobacco industry (That’s why they also want to have a voice in schools to counter the deceitful marketing strategy of vape and tobacco industry).”

The 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that an estimated 809,677 or 12.5 percent of Filipino youth use tobacco products, which include cigarettes, cigars, and heated tobacco items. Additionally, about 913,316 or 14.1 percent of youth already use electronic cigarettes.

Smoking continues to be a major public health issue in the Philippines. According to the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Survey, tobacco use claimed the lives of 88,169 Filipinos in that year alone—making it one of the country’s top preventable causes of death.

To address this, the DOH is advocating for vape- and tobacco-free school environments in coordination with other government bodies, civil society groups, and young people themselves.

The agency commended the efforts of the Eusebio High School student council, emphasizing that youth participation in health advocacy plays a crucial role in amplifying anti-smoking messages across campuses.