29 May 2025, Quezon City. Public health and environmental groups congratulate the newly elected officials and legislators in the recently concluded 2025 Mid-Term Elections. And, they are calling on the newly elected senators and congresspersons to act urgently by passing the Plain Packaging Bill for all tobacco and electronic smoking devices (ESDs) such as vapes and heated tobacco products.
ASH and allied organizations appeal to lawmakers to file and pass the Plain Packaging Bill.
According to Dr. Maricar Limpin, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines, “The tobacco and vape industries are still targeting our children with flashy, deceptive packaging because the current laws only require graphic health warnings to be printed on the lower half surface of the packs, and are often obscured when being sold in stores.”
Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), points out that four ASEAN countries already require plain packaging of tobacco products where large graphic health warnings appear prominently at the top of the pack’s front and back panels, while the brand name is at the lowest portion, in standardized font type and font size, and stripped of other branding or design elements.
“The Philippines,” he added, “has one of the smallest health warnings on tobacco packaging in the ASEAN in addition to being the only ASEAN country that places its graphic warnings on the lower half of the pack.” Thailand has the largest (85%) graphic health warnings in ASEAN.
“We cannot allow another Congress to ignore this deadly tactic of designing tobacco packs to appeal to the young and overlook international standards while our current smoking and vaping rates have both gone up. “We urge our lawmakers to rise to the occasion, ipasa ang Plain Packaging Bill ngayon na! (Pass the Plain Packaging Bill, now!) Our youth deserve protection, not addiction. We’ve seen in countries like Australia and Thailand how plain packaging significantly reduced smoking rates, especially among young people,” added Dr. Limpin.
ASH Philippines stresses that plain packaging is a proven intervention that removes the attractive colors, logos, and branding on tobacco and vape products, leaving only the product name and graphic health warnings.
The Ecowaste Coalition, a national environmental network, also expressed strong support. “Cigarette butts and packaging remain to be one of the most littered products on our streets and oceans, with the addition of discarded vape consumables. Plain packaging is seen to reduce consumption and thus help reduce waste stream coming from these products. Less addiction means less pollution,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the Ecowaste Coalition. “We stand with ASH Philippines in pushing for this critical public health legislation.”
Plain packaging can help in reducing the appeal of tobacco products, and in enhancing the effectiveness of graphic health warnings.
GOALS OF PLAIN PACKAGING FOR TOBACCO AND ESD PRODUCTS:
Removes the visual appeal of harmful products
Heightens emphasis on health harms and other negative outcomes
Helps prevent youth initiation into smoking and vaping
Reduces long-term health costs and environmental damage
Helps enforcers identify illicit products on the market
Aligns with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
CALL TO ACTION: ASH Philippines and allied organizations now call on legislators to:
File and pass the Plain Packaging Bill without delay
Ensure inclusion of ESDs (vape devices/consumables) in the bill’s scope
Uphold their mandate to protect the Filipino people, especially the youth
About ASH Philippines:
ASH Philippines is a national advocacy organization working to end the tobacco epidemic in the Philippines through legislation, education, and community partnerships.
Email: ash.philippines@gmail.com
Phone: +63-9176283502
About Ecowaste Coalition:
Ecowaste Coalition is an environmental network promoting zero-waste solutions and the reduction of toxic pollution, including tobacco-related litter and waste.
Email: info@ecowastecoalition.org
Phone: +632-82944807
