Koronadal City, South Cotabato, Philippines | September 8, 2025— The Office of the Provincial Health Officer is urging municipalities in South Cotabato to amend their anti-smoking ordinances to regulate the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, citing increasing health risks, particularly among the youth.
John Arlo Codilla, Nurse III and Infectious Disease Head, said at least eight local government units (LGUs) in the province are already implementing smoke-free municipality programs, and efforts are underway to align these with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
“Actually, we are working with other LGUs on some of their existing ordinances. We already have eight LGUs implementing smoke-free municipality programs, and these now include e-cigarettes and vaping,” Codilla said.
He explained that a provincial ordinance has been proposed to formally incorporate vaping into South Cotabato’s existing tobacco control policies. This also seeks to address digital-age challenges, as more young people are turning to vaping instead of traditional cigarettes.
“If we observe, more of our younger population are using vape—even outside schools and along the streets,” Codilla noted. “There is no exact research yet on why, but it may be due to aesthetics, trends, peer pressure, or even stress.”
Codilla also cited global health data, pointing out that in 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 2,800 cases of E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), with 68 deaths, most of them among young males with a median age of 24.
“E-cigarettes contain many toxic chemicals that can damage the lungs. There are no healthy effects from using e-cigarettes. Both tobacco and vape are very hazardous, and our message to the community is to remain health-conscious at all times,” he warned.
To help residents quit smoking and vaping, Codilla added that smoking cessation clinics are available in local Rural Health Units (RHUs), ready to provide support services for those who want to overcome addiction.
