Manila: A group advocating child rights legislation in the country on Tuesday threw its support behind a measure at the House of Representatives seeking to completely eliminate indoor smoking and vaping areas, emphasizing that millions of Filipinos remain trapped in indoor spaces contaminated by second-hand tobacco smoke and vape emissions.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Child Rights Network (CRN) announced that House Bill 9603, or the proposed Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Act, aims to establish a strict national public health standard, specifically targeting enclosed workplaces, public transport, and spaces frequented by children. The bill, introduced by Rep. Krisel Lagman (1st District, Albay), was filed on Monday to coincide with World No Tobacco Day and the start of National No Smoking Month.
"The harm of tobacco and vape use does not end with the smoker. Millions are exposed to tobacco smoke and vape aerosol in enclosed workplaces, public spaces, and public transportation. It is happening in our barangays, schools, parks, and even inside our homes," Lagman said.
According to the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, an estimated 2.5 million adult Filipinos are exposed to tobacco smoke within enclosed workplaces. Another 4.2 million suffer exposure inside public transportation vehicles. The crisis is expanding with the rise of alternative devices. The 2023 National Nutrition Survey estimates that 1.5 million Filipinos now use e-cigarettes or vapes, releasing chemical aerosols into shared airspaces.
The youth are particularly vulnerable to this indoor confinement. Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development Executive Director and CRN Convener Au Quilala pointed out that data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey shows more than 40 percent of Filipino youth are regularly exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke in enclosed public spaces. "We enjoin all our legislators to support this bill in fulfillment of our shared responsibility to protect children's health," she said.
To tackle indoor air contamination, HB 9603 proposes the R.E.L.A.T.E. framework, a six-point national standard modeled after successful local government units (LGUs). It includes: Removal of indoor designated smoking and vaping areas; Expansion of smoke-free and vape-free zones in public spaces and workplaces; Local health budget allocation for tobacco and vape control and cessation programs; Awards for local government units that effectively implement the law; Task Force creation in LGUs for effective enforcement; and Enhanced and stiffer penalties for violators.
Philippine Smoke-Free Movement National Coordinator Rizza Duro said the bill will ensure strong information campaigns, local adaptation, and capacity-building. "The goal is to change behavior, promote public health, and protect our most vulnerable, the children," she said.
The group noted that over 112,000 Filipinos die every year from tobacco-related diseases, including illnesses directly linked to second-hand smoke inhalation. Smoking costs the Philippines an estimated PHP210 billion annually in healthcare expenses and lost economic productivity.
Social Watch Philippines Co-Convener Dr. Victoria Raquiza emphasized that the bill's funding mechanism is vital to sustaining clean indoor air initiatives, or else decades of progress in addressing the health costs of tobacco and nicotine addiction would simply roll back.
The push to clear the air in indoor spaces is backed by the legislative successes of pioneer cities like Baguio, Tabaco, Davao, Balanga, Iloilo, and Butuan. Baguio City was recently recognized globally, receiving the World No Tobacco Day 2026 Award from the World Health Organization. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong joined the call for a national mandate to support cities in keeping shared indoor spaces clean. He said protection must not rest on cities alone, and a national law serving as the backbone of local efforts, dedicating funds for sustained enforcement, and ensuring proper and strict implementation, is needed.
Citing a Pulse Asia survey, the CRN said that the public approves of the transition to completely smoke-free indoor public areas, with 93 percent of Filipinos supporting a policy on it. The group also noted that the sentiment is shared by 86 percent of smokers themselves. Hence, a law banning smoking in public places and private places frequented by the public would be greatly welcomed.
