Anti-smoking, vaping ordinance pushed in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Anti-tobacco advocates have urged Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna to pass an ordinance combating smoking and vaping.

The appeal was made following a report from Doctors Without Borders, which showed that 1,280 residents in Tondo had been diagnosed with tuberculosis or TB, reflecting a local positivity rate of 4.3 percent, significantly higher than the national average of three percent.

Philippines Smoke-Free Movement national coordinator Rizza Duro said there is an urgent need to address smoking and vaping, which are well-known risk factors that compromise lung health and exacerbate vulnerability to diseases such as TB.

“Smoking and vaping damage the lungs and make it easier for tuberculosis to spread. We know that the council is on break, but this is a good time to reflect on these issues and plan to pass an ordinance when sessions resume,” Duro said.

She stressed that Manila needs strong smoke-free and vape-free measures, especially for vulnerable areas such as Tondo.  

“Local governments have a duty to reduce tobacco use and nicotine addiction to protect and promote public health. TB is much better controlled with strong policy measures to control smoking and e-cigarette use, which perpetuate the cycles of disease and poverty,” Duro said.

Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance executive director Ulysses Dorotheo said that prevention is just as critical as treatment.

“Efforts to treat TB are commendable and necessary, but a robust ordinance controlling smoking and e-cigarette use will significantly reduce the prevalence of respiratory illnesses and alleviate the strain on Manila’s health care system,” Dorotheo said.

Tondo community leader Remy Cabello expressed confidence in Lacuna’s leadership.

“As a doctor, we trust her dedication to public health. By passing the ordinance, she can create a lasting legacy that saves lives and secures Manila’s future generations,” Cabello said.

According to the World Health Organization, the Philippines remains among the top 10 countries with the highest TB cases, with 739,000 recorded in 2024.