Business · Philippines Bureau
Youth advocates warn lawmakers of vaping health risks among students
Health advocates have raised concerns about electronic cigarette use among young Filipinos, calling attention to documented adverse health effects. The warning came during a legislative hearing on proposed excise tax measures.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Youth for Health Coalition has urged Philippine lawmakers to address growing health concerns related to vaping among students, citing evidence of harmful effects from electronic cigarette use.
Aliyah Mae Lozari, convenor of the youth-focused health group, presented the coalition's position during a House of Representatives ways and means committee hearing on Tuesday. The hearing examined the Department of Finance's proposed unified excise tax framework, valued at P72.9 billion.
The group's intervention underscores mounting medical concerns about nicotine and other substances in vaping products, particularly regarding their impact on adolescent brain development and respiratory health. Health officials globally have documented rising vaping rates among teenagers despite regulatory efforts.
The coalition's statement to lawmakers signals renewed pressure on Congress to consider public health implications as it deliberates on taxation and regulatory policies affecting tobacco and nicotine products. The DOF's excise tax proposal is expected to shape the pricing and accessibility of such products in the Philippine market.