For the children of Casiguran, Sorsogon an ordinance passed regulating the use, sale, and distribution of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, with penalties for anyone who violates its provisions, is more than a policy but a promise that their health, their future, matter.
In a landmark move to uphold and protect the children’s health, the Sangguniang Bayan of Casiguran passed Ordinance No. 2025-52 on June 30, 2025. The law was signed by Mayor Maria Minez R. Hamor on September 9, 2025, making Casiguran the first municipality in Sorsogon Province to extend its anti-smoking ordinance to cover vapes as well.
Casiguran is a Red Orchid Awardee, recognized by the Department of Health for rigorous enforcement of smoke-free environments and tobacco policy criteria aligned with DOH standards. This distinction honors LGUs, agencies, and hospitals that excel in implementing tobacco-free policies through measures such as monitoring tobacco use, protecting citizens from exposure, offering cessation services, warning about risks, enforcing advertising bans, and raising taxes.
Significant extension
The addition of anti-vaping measures is a significant extension, prompted by serious concerns about rising vape use among the youth.
‘When we protect the youth, we protect the future. This ordinance is proof that Casiguran believes in the power of a healthy, hope-filled tomorrow,’ Vice Mayor Dennis Escudero said.
Data from the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) reveals that among students aged 13 to 15 in the Philippines, about 14.1 percent are current users of e-cigarettes. That’s about one in seven youth already vaping. Meanwhile, 24.6 percent have tried vaping at some point.
More recently, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) reported that youth users of vape escalated sharply: from around 37,500 in 2021 to over 423,000 in 2023. That’s more than a 1,000 percent increase.
These statistics show that despite progress in reducing smoking among younger people, vaping has surged, and it is the kids drawing in first. Flavored products, easy accessibility, and the presence of vape products in social media are frequently cited reasons.
Alarming trends
With these alarming trends, the youth of Casiguran are at the heart of this ordinance. The ordinance is designed to shield young people from the harms of tobacco use: restrictions on sale and distribution; penalties for violations; and regulating use in public spaces where youth are likely exposed.
‘There is an urgent need to protect our youth from the harms and dangers of vaping,’ Mark Elmo Buenaobra, President of Pambayang Pederasyon ng SK-Casiguran, Sorsogon shared in an interview.
‘By bringing vaping under the legal framework already governing smoke-free areas, Casiguran’s leadership aims to send a clear message-that protecting kids from the addictive and harmful effects of vaporized nicotine is not optional,’ he added.
The inclusion of anti-vaping measures in its ordinance underscores Casiguran’s commitment to staying ahead of emerging health threats. Vaping, often marketed as a ‘safer alternative’ to cigarettes, has been linked to nicotine addiction and long-term health risks, while the improper disposal of devices adds to environmental hazards.
Vital role
The Parents Against Vape (PAV) organization played a vital role in the ordinance’s development.
Officers and members of PAV actively joined public consultations, offering recommendations and raising key considerations that helped shape the final provisions of the law.
Their advocacy reflects growing concerns among parents, educators, and health professionals about the rapid spread of vaping among the youth.
Rebie Relator, President of PAV, emphasized why their involvement mattered: ‘As parents, we cannot stay silent while our children are being lured into addiction through sweet flavors and deceptive marketing. We have seen how quickly vaping spreads among the youth, and how easily it can undo years of progress against smoking. The passage of this ordinance is not just a victory for Casiguran. It is a victory for our kids’ future.’