Action toward tobacco-free generation

More than 20 participants, representing members of the House of Representatives and the Senate and congressional offices, gathered to discuss the effects of the tobacco epidemic in the Philippines and the ways forward in protecting Filipinos, particularly children and youth, from the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke. Recognizing that the tobacco epidemic and the emerging popularity of vape products pose a great threat to the country’s public health, and hinder long-term development goals of the Philippines, the participants engaged on lively discussion on how legislators and other decision makers in the government must take immediate actions to protect public health and agreed that actions toward tobacco-free generation such as higher tobacco taxation and the creation of a smoke-free environment must start now.