Philippine President Marcos reiterated his commitment to protecting public health and stressed the fight against the smuggling of vapes. These products pose a serious threat to public health, with some containing toxins and packaging designed for minors.
Key points:
1. President Marcos of the Philippines reiterated his commitment to protecting public health, stressing the importance of combating the smuggling of vapes, arguing that public health is more important than tax losses.
2. Marcos pointed out that smuggled vapes pose a serious threat to public health, and the packaging design is aimed at minors, further threatening the health of users.
3. The number of smuggled vapes intercepted by Philippine authorities has steadily increased since 2023, with seizures doubling in 2024. The President commended the coordinated efforts of various government agencies and encouraged continued good work.
Philippine President Marcos reaffirms protection of public health
Philippine President Marcos has reiterated his commitment to protecting public health, saying it is more important than the lost tax revenue recovered from smuggling.
Marcos was speaking at the Manila Customs Bureau (BOC) where he presided over the identification and destruction of seized smuggled vape products. In his speech, he noted that the seized products seriously threatened public health.
He said that compared with the government’s tax loss. We should be more concerned about the health problems that these vape products may cause.
- “Because we cannot identify these smuggled products, we do not know their origin and ingredients.”
In the past 10 operations, the Port of Manilla, the Manila International Container Port, and the Customs Intelligence Team seized 2,977,925 vapes and their accessories, valued at about PHP3.26 billion ($56.9 million).
Marcos warned that some of these vapes contain harmful substances. “Some products were found to contain toxins after inspection, further threatening the health of users.”
What worries him more is the way these products are marketed. The president noted that the packaging design of many products targets minors.
- “What is particularly worrying is that the packaging looks like it was meant for children.”
Marcos praised the coordinated efforts of various government agencies, which have seen a steady rise in the number of smuggled vapes seized since 2023.
- “In 2023, we seized more than 3 billion pesos ($52.3 million) worth of smuggled vapes, and in 2024, seizures of illegal vapes doubled. We are also on track to intercept more illegal vapes from January to March 2025.”
- “Keep up the good work. We are beginning to see the results of your efforts. Keep trying.”
According to the Presidential Office, in 2024 alone, the Philippine Customs Department seized about 6.658 billion pesos (about $100 million) worth of goods in 48 operations targeting the smuggling of vapes.
