24 June 2026
By PIA-CA
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong reiterated the local government’s advocacy for a total ban on all vapes following the recent confirmation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that marijuana-laced vape devices have been found in a Baguio school.
PDEA officials reported during the joint second-quarter meeting of the City Peace and Order Council and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council that the two vape devices and a lighter voluntarily turned over by a school and were subjected to laboratory examination tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis.
Magalong affirmed the city’s position against the use and sale of all vape devices due to the severe health concerns they pose, especially among the youth sector.
“We clearly and explicitly stipulated na we are highly recommending a total ban for vape because of the serious health issues. Kaya tayo, in so far as Baguio is concerned, total ban ang ating advocacy,” Magalong said.
In Baguio City, there are no points of sale/purchase for vape devices in accordance with the Smoke-Free Baguio City Ordinance (Baguio City Ordinance No. 34, series of 2017), but the accessibility to purchasing such devices online and through illicit operations causes hindrances in the complete enforcement of the ordinance.
“’Yun vape kasi, nabibili online, at isa sa mga talagang challenge doon is nahahaluan na sa mga iba-ibang klaseng drugs,” the mayor said.
“Ganoon ang ginagawa nila ngayon, so talagang challenge kaya talagang pakikipag-ugnayan na namin iyan sa mga school authority, public and private, para talaga mahigpit sa mga vape na ‘yan.”
The disguised appearances of vape devices also make the identification of vape devices more difficult in schools. Misleading designs such as a USB flash drive or drink containers may also contribute to the prevalent usage of vape devices. Such designs are also deliberately used to increase appeal to young consumers.
“Ang pinakahirap diyan is, it has many forms, ‘yung vape. ‘Yung isa, akala mo lang ordinary lang ‘yan flashdrive, vape na pala. O kaya, parang akala mo iniinom lang na tetra pack pero vape na pala ‘yun. At masama, kung may kahalo pa na drugs, challenge talaga ‘yan, kaya mahigpit kami, tuloy-tuloy,” Magalong said.
He assured that the city government will continue cooperating with PDEA in their intervention operations as well as increased preventive awareness campaigns as part of their commitment to a healthier and safer Smoke-Free Baguio City. (JDP/DEG-PIA-CAR W/ UC intern Alisha Faith D. Marcial)