By: Angelica Arquero
In a move to intensify the campaign against smuggling and protect public health, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the destruction of smuggled electronic cigarettes and vape products on April 7.
Among those who used to be addicted to vaping are Arvin and Kim, both of whom shared their experiences and reasons for quitting.
Arvin admitted he started smoking and vaping at the age of 14 to follow trends, while Kim said she stopped due to health concerns and the high cost of maintaining the habit.
According to the Global Tobacco Control Organization, there were around 2.7 million vape users in the Philippines in 2024, with 1.2 million of them being minors.
President Marcos stressed the urgency of addressing the problem, citing health risks and the lack of regulation on smuggled vape products.
He warned that some of the confiscated products had not undergone proper inspection and were found to contain harmful substances.
“These products were smuggled without permits or documentation. Some were even packaged to appeal to children,” the President said.
The destroyed vape products, collected through various operations led by the Bureau of Customs, Department of Finance, and Bureau of Internal Revenue, were valued at over 3 billion pesos.
In 2024, more than 6 billion pesos worth of smuggled vapes were destroyed, and over 3 billion pesos worth in 2023.
