The Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association (PECIA) expressed support for stricter enforcement of existing vape regulations and collaboration with government, while appealing to lawmakers not to penalize compliant businesses for the actions of illegal traders.

In a statement during today’s Senate hearing on the Vape Law led by the Committee on Health and Demography, jointly with the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, PECIA President Joey Dulay stressed their shared concerns over youth access to vapor products but emphasized that the solution lies in enforcing current laws rather than revising them in ways that could destabilize legitimate trade.

Sen. Hontiveros said the Senate committee also values the importance of balance. “The onus right now is mostly on us legislators to come up with the best possible amendment or change to the law, meeting those different interests," she said.

"Let me be clear: This is not anti-industry. This is pro-health, pro-youth. Hindi ito tungkol sa produkto. Ito ay tungkol ito sa tao," she added.

Dulay said, Republic Act No. 11900 already provides safeguards such as age restrictions, product standards, and penalties for violations. The urgent gap is not the absence of legal tools, but its enforcement.

PECIA pointed to the widespread presence of illicit vape products in the market as the primary driver of youth access and risk.

“The market is flooded with unregistered, non-compliant illegal vape products, so the real gap is not in the current law but in its enforcement, particularly against illicit products and black-market retailers,” Dulay said.

“These are the devices young people are using and pose the greatest danger.”

"There are two types of sellers in the market, a compliant industry and an illicit one. Treating all vape sellers as if they are the same is not appropriate. From our perspective, legitimate businesses are being unfairly lumped together with illicit products," Dulay added.

Dulay said while the intention behind stricter measures is good, outright bans do not address the real problem.

“The illicit industry operates outside the regulatory framework. They do not care whether the minimum age is set at 25, 28, or 31—they simply ignore it. If flavors are restricted, they ignore that as well. Because they do not comply, they also do not pay taxes, do not register with the DTI, and bypass proper channels, going straight to the market.”

Dulay appeals for the legitimate vape industry to be treated with balance.

“We support efforts to prevent youth uptake, but we also need government support for adult smokers like us,” he said.

PECIA stressed that lawful businesses, which collectively represent more than 300 companies and support thousands of Filipino jobs, should not be penalized for violations committed by illicit operators.

Instead, it called for targeted action against illegal supply chains and noncompliant sellers.

“Our position is that there must be a balance between maintaining a working law and punishing those who operate illegally. The strongest protection for youth comes from strong enforcement of balanced regulation that removes illegal supply, not from repeatedly reopening or altering the law.

“We are one with civil society, health groups, and parents. Your concern on youth access is also our concern. Let us all work together in addressing this problem,” he said.

“You need to report those who are selling to the youth and selling unlicensed vapes that are attractive to the youth.”

Dulay said PECIA is committed to working closely with authorities to address violations.

“If you report retailers selling to minors or offering unlicensed products, we will work with the DTI and law enforcement agencies to go after these violators,” he noted.

E-commerce platforms also underscored the importance of working with government to strengthen enforcement in the online space.

Speaking on behalf of Shopee Philippines, Jaimmie Hans-Segovia emphasized platform safeguards and shared responsibility.

“We acknowledge that bad actors continue to test safeguards across all online platforms, often by misrepresenting products or disguising listings. We believe that enforcement is more most effective when platforms and regulators operate from shared specific reference points.”

Lazada Philippines, represented by John Kenneth Estiller, likewise highlighted enforcement efforts and coordination with regulators.

“We recognize that the open nature of e-commerce can be exploited by bad actors, but we also believe that the responsible platforms have a duty, and an opportunity to be part of the solution,” he added.