Quezon City, Philippines — In celebration of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2025, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) are calling on the newly elected members of the Senate and House of Representatives to urgently pass the Standardized Packaging of Tobacco and Electronic Smoking Devices Act of 2025.The bill aims to strip tobacco and vape products of their marketing appeal, by mandating plain, uniform packaging, strengthened graphic health warnings, and strict regulation of Electronic Smoking Devices (ESDs).
“We cannot allow packaging to deceive our youth into addiction,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, Executive Director of ASH Philippines. “This bill is about saving lives, and we are calling on our new lawmakers to act now. Every day of delay allows the industry to continue targeting children with colorful lies. Standardized Packaging is proven. It works, and it sends a message: no more manipulation, no more lies.”
Voice from a Medical Frontliner
The Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), in ceremonies held at the Lung Center of the Philippines this morning, was bestowed the WNTD 2025 Award, given by the World Health Organization. PCCP, a long-standing tobacco control advocate which developed the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Smoking Cessation and is at the helm of several tobacco control campaigns, including the most recent “Beat The Vape” movement, strongly supports the Standardized Packaging bill (or Plain Packaging bill) from a clinical standpoint.“We see the damage tobacco and vaping cause every day, “The lung insults are alarming and spare no one” said Dr. Jubert P. Benedicto, MD, FPCP, FPCCP, President of the PCCP. “Standardized packaging will help deglamorize these products and discourage young users before they become our next critical care patients.”
Unmasking the Appeal: A Legislative Imperative
This year’s WNTD theme “Unmasking the Appeal” spotlights the deceptive tactics used by the tobacco and vape industry, including:
- Flashy packaging and flavored variants
- Misinformation about “less harmful” alternatives
- Celebrity and influencer promotion via digital platforms
The Standardized Packaging Bill will:
- Remove all logos, colors, textures, and branding elements
- Enforce dull, uniform brown packaging (Pantone 448C)
- Require 90% graphic health warnings
- Apply equally to cigarettes and electronic smoking devices (vapes)
Time for Congress to Act
ASH Philippines and PCCP are urging the Senate Committee on Health and the House Committees on Health, Youth, and Trade to schedule urgent hearings. Advocates also call on long-time champions like Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Risa Hontiveros and Rep. Anna York Bondoc to lead this legislative push.
About the Advocates
ASH Philippines is a national civil society group dedicated to ending tobacco harm through evidence-based policies and grassroots advocacy. PCCP is a professional society of pulmonary physicians in the Philippines, committed to promoting lung health and tobacco-free living.
