BAGUIO CITY — Baguio is stepping up its campaign against unauthorized cigarette and vape sales, with city authorities intensifying inspections and intelligence operations aimed at limiting access to tobacco and vaping products.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said Friday that while public awareness of Baguio’s smoking restrictions has improved, enforcement is now focusing more heavily on where and how tobacco products are sold.
City enforcement teams are conducting discreet operations and inspections in barangays to check compliance with restrictions on cigarette sales, including the prohibition on selling cigarettes individually and operating without authorization.
Cigarette Sales Restricted Near Schools, Offices and Churches
Under Baguio’s smoke-free ordinance, cigarette sales are prohibited within a 100-meter radius of schools, government offices and churches.
The rules also prohibit cigarette displays and advertising materials in establishments, while the sale of individual sticks is restricted.
Smoking itself is prohibited in public places such as roads, alleys, parks and public utility vehicles. Private establishments may permit smoking only in designated areas that comply with city requirements.
The city has also deputized enforcement personnel at the barangay level, working alongside the Baguio City Police Office, Public Order and Safety Division and anti-smoking task force.
Baguio Treats Vape Products Under Its Smoke-Free Rules
Vaping is another major focus of the intensified campaign.
City officials said Baguio’s ordinance classifies vape products as cigarettes. Magalong said the city has not issued permits to establishments or businesses to sell vape products and supplies.
Authorities are also monitoring online activity involving vape sales. The city government has expressed support for a proposed national measure that would prohibit online sales of vape products.
The issue is significant because national regulations already place requirements on online vape sellers, including registration and safeguards intended to prevent sales to minors. The Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera previously emphasized that online sellers must comply with applicable product standards and age-verification requirements under the national vape law framework.
Enforcement Comes After Baguio Wins ASEAN Recognition
The renewed push comes shortly after Baguio received the Gold Award at the 2026 ASEAN Smoke-Free Awards in Kuala Lumpur on September 10.
The recognition honored the city’s local smoke-free policies and enforcement efforts. Pasig City was also recognized, receiving a Bronze Award.
Baguio’s anti-smoking task force said the award has encouraged the city to continue its tobacco-control campaign rather than ease enforcement.
Dr. Donnabel Tubera-Panes, the task force’s action officer, said the city’s efforts have gradually improved awareness among residents and tourists, while officials continue encouraging smokers and vape users to quit.
The City Has Already Seized Millions in Tobacco and Vape Products
Baguio’s tougher approach is not entirely new.
In February 2026, the city government destroyed and disposed of approximately PHP5 million worth of confiscated tobacco and vape products. The items had been seized during enforcement operations conducted from August 2025 through early 2026, according to The Daily Tribune.
Earlier enforcement operations also targeted establishments allegedly operating without permits and products that failed to meet national regulatory requirements.
These operations show that the latest inspections are part of a continuing enforcement campaign rather than a one-time response to the city’s ASEAN recognition.
Access to Vape Products Remains a Challenge
Despite local restrictions, authorities acknowledge that online sales make enforcement more difficult.
That challenge extends beyond Baguio. A 2026 study highlighted by BusinessMirror involving 4,340 Grade 7 to 10 students in Baguio, Pasig, Iloilo and Davao examined young people’s awareness of tobacco-control policies and their reported access to cigarettes and vape products. The study pointed to continuing gaps between regulations and actual accessibility.
At the national level, the Bureau of Internal Revenue also announced in September that it was increasing enforcement against illicit tobacco and vape products, citing heightened risks as holiday demand approaches.
What the Crackdown Means for Residents and Tourists
For people living in or visiting Baguio, the message from city authorities is straightforward: smoke-free rules remain in force, and enforcement is becoming more active.
The city is concentrating not only on people who smoke in prohibited places but also on the availability and unauthorized sale of tobacco and vape products.
Baguio’s latest campaign also illustrates the challenge facing local governments: winning recognition for strong tobacco-control policies is one step, while maintaining consistent enforcement and limiting access to restricted products requires continuing inspections and coordination among city agencies.
With Baguio now holding the 2026 ASEAN Smoke-Free Awards Gold recognition, city officials are signaling that the smoke-free campaign will continue—and that sellers who disregard local restrictions are likely to face closer scrutiny.
