The Philippines addressed the smoking epidemic with the passage of the Vape law, recognizing tobacco harm reduction approach as among the identified pillars of the World Health Organization's (WHO) global tobacco control treaty but the agency is inflexible with its restrictive stance, a group said.

'The Vape Law acknowledges the need for less harmful alternatives for smokers, and (the Philippine) Congress, by passing this law, has shown its support for science-based public health policy,' said Dr. Lorenzo Mata, president of Quit For Good, a non-profit organization promoting harm reduction to mitigate the damage caused by cigarettes.