CAPHRA Calls On Philippines To Champion Consumer Voices At WHO COP11

Monday, 10 November 2025, 1:01 pm
Press Release: CAPHRA

Department of Health Urged to Lead Regional Shift Toward Evidence-Based Tobacco Harm Reduction

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) formally appeals to the Department of Health to represent Filipino consumers at the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, convening in Geneva from 17-22 November 2025. In a letter to Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa delivered today, CAPHRA emphasises that consumers—the people most impacted by global tobacco policy—have been systematically excluded from FCTC deliberations for two decades.

Clarisse Virgino, Philippine Representative of CAPHRA, stressed the urgency of inclusion: "For years, FCTC discussions have silenced the very voices they claim to protect. Millions of Filipinos have successfully transitioned from smoking to regulated alternatives like vapes and heated tobacco. Their real-world experiences prove that harm reduction works, yet policy is shaped without hearing from them."

CAPHRA notes that the Philippines has already established a legal framework supporting this approach. Republic Act No. 11900, the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act enacted in 2022, adopts risk-proportionate regulation for safer alternatives, acknowledging tobacco harm reduction as a legitimate public health strategy. The law reflects the experiences of Filipino consumers and represents a balanced policy approach grounded in scientific evidence.

Consumer participation in tobacco control remains extraordinarily limited globally. Despite the FCTC operating for over twenty years, not a single consumer advocacy group has been granted official observer status, while only 26 NGOs total have won approval—far fewer than climate or development negotiations. CAPHRA warns that this exclusion has contributed to policies that overlook scientific evidence and real-world success stories.

Virgino outlined three specific requests to the Department of Health. First, recognise tobacco harm reduction as a core public health pillar, consistent with Republic Act 11900. Second, convey to COP11 delegates that Filipino consumer experiences demonstrate how regulated, smoke-free alternatives dramatically reduce smoking rates and related harms. Third, advocate for meaningful consumer participation and independent scientific evidence in global tobacco policy discussions.

The appeal arrives amid broader regional tensions. Thailand's rushed Cabinet approval of stricter e-cigarette regulations during a national mourning period, combined with stringent approaches in Malaysia and Singapore, signals a troubling pattern where FCTC compliance appears to supersede evidence-based harm reduction and consumer welfare.

Virgino concluded: "The Philippines has a rare opportunity to demonstrate regional leadership by championing an inclusive, science-based approach to tobacco control. By amplifying consumer voices at COP11, the DOH can help guide the global community toward policies that genuinely save lives rather than restrict access to life-changing alternatives."

The Department of Health has not yet responded publicly to the letter. CAPHRA stands ready to provide evidence, consumer testimonies, and regional insights to support the Philippines' COP11 delegation.

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