A public health advocacy group has urged the government of the Philippines to follow the lead of six ASEAN countries that have already banned vape products, as regional leaders marked the 25th anniversary of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) in Bangkok, Thailand.

HealthJustice Philippines made the call during the Tobacco Control Legacies event, where government officials, diplomats, and civil society advocates gathered to celebrate regional gains in tobacco control and recognize policy champions.

Six ASEAN member-states namely, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, have implemented vape bans.

Such move, according to HealthJustice, demonstrates stronger regulatory action to protect public health, particularly among the youth.

“The Philippines has much to learn from the tobacco control policies of our ASEAN neighbors which we honored in this event. Six ASEAN countries have already banned vapes, and it is high time that we follow their lead. We cannot afford more EVALI-related deaths, especially among our youth, who are the future of our nation,” Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza, the president of HealthJustice, said in a statement.

“As we celebrate milestones in tobacco control across Southeast Asia, we must look ahead and use this momentum to advance stronger, more comprehensive tobacco control policies throughout the region,” she went on.

HealthJustice noted that Southeast Asia has emerged as the third-largest vape market globally.

“In the Philippines, over 14% of students aged 13–15 are using vapes, with the country recording the first EVALI-related death in 2024 involving a 22-year-old male,” it stated.

Also, the group cited a recent report showing that tobacco industry interference in the Philippines intensified in recent years, reaching its highest level in 2025 with a score of 70.

“Today, the tobacco industry continues to insert itself into policymaking through corporate social responsibility activities and the proliferation of youth-targeted products. We must carry on the torch, and ensure that our policies truly prioritize the health of our people and remain free from the influence of harmful corporate agendas,” Fernandez-Mendoza said.

On Feb. 10, advocacy group TobaccOFF NOW! Movement welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) proposed move to restrict harmful vape products to protect young people, but maintained that only a total ban on all vaping and novel tobacco products would effectively safeguard public health.

The DTI earlier released a draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) proposing a ban on vape open pods and e-liquids, and is seeking feedback from stakeholders and consumers amid health and safety concerns.