Medical experts and consumer advocates banded together to call for step up harm reduction initiatives in the Philippines at the “Harm Reduction & Nicotine Summit” on October 15.

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• By EDD K. USMAN| X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News

EDSA SHANGRI-LA, Mandaluyong City, October 15, 2025 (SDN) — Even as the government has been campaigning to stop, or at least reduce, the use of tobacco products in the Philippines, a 2020 figure showed that 321 Filipinos die of smoke-related deaths every single day, which run up to over 117,000 a year.

Across the world, as cited by the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2025, the number of deaths from tobacco use is more than eight million, seven million of them arising from direct use of the chemicals-laden plant, and of that are 1.6 million non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.

That could be a lot of dead bodies due to tobacco and, perhaps, it is one of the reasons that there is a Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategy in some parts of the globe.

And that includes the Philippines as medical experts and consumer advocates conducted today, Wednesday, what they dubbed the “Harm Reduction and Nicotine Summit” here in this five-star hotel to call for the institutionalization of “harm reduction” as “pillar of public health”.

A search on the internet, Wikipedia tells us about this so-called “THR”:

It “is a public health strategy aimed at minimizing the health risks associated with tobacco use by promoting safer alternatives to traditional smoking.” Are vapes in your mind?

It means, simply stated, that smokers who quit puffing cigarettes can still satisfy their cravings for nicotine through some alternatives.

Though medical experts agree that nicotine is not carcinogenic, meaning it does not cause cancer, but when it is in tobacco it adds to the risks. So, THR seeks to lower risks for health associated with tobacco, one way of which is to switch to nicotine products that are less harmful, thus, less risks.

While addictive by itself, nicotine is less harmful compared to other chemicals carried by tobacco smoke. (Wikipedia)

The Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP) hosted the summit backed by Smokefree Conversations PH, Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association (PECIA), Quit for Good, Consumer Choice Philippines, VaperAko, VapersPH, CAPS and Partners, and Science & Innovation Nicotine Advocacy Group (SINAG) with their leaders present.

Amid the well-attended summit, the organizations behind the event voiced their support for THR advocacy through their “Manifesto for a Smoke-Free Philippines”. Apparently, if only they are the ones making policy decisions and implementing them, for sure one of them is a stronger harm reduction and made, as they suggested, as one of public health’s pillars.

In their manifesto read at the event, they made plain that they are from the health, industry, and civil society sectors calling for a smoke-free Philippines, which they believe would enable “Filipinos to pursue better health and a brighter future.”

Their hope is “for a future where Filipinos choose to live smoke-free because they are empowered with better choices instead of continuing to smoke harmful cigarettes.”

One of their calls is for the government to act concerning the menace of tobacco products anchored on “truth, science, and compassion, with these as our building blocks to the future we seek.”

They also call for the recognition that THR “is a lifeline, especially, especially for adult smokers who do not quit.”

Here’s a statement out of the summit provided to media members who covered the event:

Health experts and consumer advocates urged the government to uphold and protect tobacco harm reduction as a foundation of public health policy at the Harm Reduction and Nicotine Summit. They warned that ignoring modern science restricts smokers from accessing proven, science-backed alternatives resulting in foregone benefits to public health.

Hosted by the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP), together with Smokefree Conversations PH, Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association (PECIA), Quit for Good, Consumer Choice Philippines, VaperAko, VapersPH, CAPS and Partners, and Science & Innovation Nicotine Advocacy Group (SINAG), the Harm Reduction & Nicotine Summit brought together government officials, international experts, consumer advocates, and industry stakeholders to develop actionable policy recommendations.

Speakers stressed that tobacco harm reduction should be a core principle of public health. Tobacco harm reduction is an approach that aims to reduce the risks associated with cigarette smoking, through the promotion of alternatives that do not produce smoke, like e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products. Public Health England in the United Kingdom estimates that e-cigarettes are around 95% less harmful than combustible tobacco while also observing increased quit success rates among adult smokers. In Japan, recent studies found that smokers who switched completely to heated tobacco products showed significantly less exposure to harmful chemicals.

While the Philippines’ Vape Law follows one of the most progressive frameworks for reduced-risk alternatives, convenors at the summit say that more can be done to make these alternatives more accessible. Speakers stressed that education about these products and nicotine plays a crucial role in bringing forward the benefits of reduced risk alternatives.

“The continued demonization of nicotine is not only scientifically inaccurate; it’s dangerous,” said Dr. Lorenzo Mata, president of Quit for Good. “We cannot allow outdated research or erroneous beliefs to guide regulation. It puts millions of nicotine-dependent Filipinos at risk by forcing them to stick with harmful cigarettes.”

Dr. Jong Varela, a surgeon and harm reduction advocate, shared Sweden’s model for achieving smoke-free status. He emphasized that science must drive policy, and that regulation should help smokers switch to alternatives.

“The smoke-free alternatives we have today provide us a pathway to better protecting the public from the negative health impacts of tobacco while also acknowledging the reality of those dealing with nicotine addiction,” he said. He urged policymakers to make safer alternatives more accessible, especially as studies show 80 percent of users report positive experiences using nicotine products.

The summit revealed troubling trends. Adult smoking rates climbed to 23.2 percent in 2023 from 18.5 percent in 2021. Meanwhile, the government lost Php40 billion to the illicit cigarette and vape trade between 2021 and 2024. Experts said these figures highlight the need to uphold smarter, science-aligned regulation.

Research from Prof. Christopher Cabuay titled “Assessing the Impact of Shifting to Non-Combusted Alternatives to Reduce the Economic Cost of Tobacco-Related Illnesses: A Cost of Illness Approach in the Philippine Case,” shows that if half of adult Filipino smokers switched to non-combustible alternatives, the country could save US$3.4 billion annually in smoking-related healthcare costs — about 0.87 percent of GDP.

Anton Israel of NCUP called for inclusive policymaking. “We hope lawmakers listen to real consumer experiences,” he said. “People will make better choices if the law empowers them.”

Meanwhile, Prof. Michael Eric Castillo of CAPS & Partners warned that complex tax structures create loopholes for smuggling and push consumers toward unregulated markets instead of safer legal products.
In a joint manifesto, experts and advocacy groups urged the government to adopt and uphold science-based policies that protect public health while respecting consumer rights. They called for tax reforms, more vigorous enforcement of anti-illicit trade measures, and frameworks to help smokers transition to safer alternatives. (/)

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About the Harm Reduction & Nicotine Summit

The Harm Reduction & Nicotine Summit is hosted by the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP), together with Smokefree Conversations PH, Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association (PECIA), Quit for Good, Consumer Choice Philippines, VaperAko, VapersPH, CAPS and Partners, and Science & Innovation Nicotine Advocacy Group (SINAG).

The summit examined how science-based harm reduction can be more effectively integrated into national tobacco control efforts, with discussions focusing on developing smarter regulations, aligning tax policies with public health objectives, ensuring access to accurate consumer information, and creating sustainable approaches that reduce harm, protect public health, and combat the rise of illicit trade.