Anti-smoking advocates are pushing for a national law requiring local governments to earmark 3 percent of their health budgets for tobacco control, arguing that uneven funding has hampered enforcement of existing smoking and vaping restrictions.
The proposal is contained in House Bill 9603, or the Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Bill, which seeks to establish uniform standards for tobacco-control enforcement nationwide.
Rizza Duro, national coordinator of the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement, said the measure aims to institutionalize practices that have worked in some local governments instead of leaving implementation largely to the discretion and resources of individual local officials.
“We just want one law,” Duro said, underscoring the need for consistent national standards.
Under the bill, local governments would be required to fund smoking-cessation programs, enforcement task forces and monitoring activities. It would also eliminate indoor designated smoking and vaping areas, broaden public smoking prohibitions and increase penalties for violations.
Duro cited Baguio City as an example of how enforcement can generate resources for tobacco-control efforts. She said the city collected P20 million from enforcement activities last year, although the figure would need to be weighed against the costs and broader impact of enforcement.
Judy delos Reyes, project manager of Parents Against Vape, said some municipalities have ordinances in place but lack the resources to enforce them effectively.
“If you don’t have a budget, you won’t be able to form a task force,” she said.
The measure, which has the backing of more than 20 House members, has been referred to the House Committee on Health. Advocates said it marks their third attempt to advance national legislation on smoke- and vape-free environments.
Duro acknowledged that the bill could face opposition from tobacco-growing areas and industry interests. Advocates, however, maintain that existing local programs offer models that could be standardized and scaled nationwide, provided local governments have the resources to enforce them.
