DOH Quitline Page

DOH Quitline Page DOH Quitline is a support service for smokers and e-cigarette users or vapers who are ready to stop the habit. he added.

Service delivery is through toll-free number 1558 . Services are free, confidential, and accessible nationwide. DOH Quitline and mCessation are support services for smokers who are ready to quit smoking. It is a collaboration among WHO, DOH and Lung Center of the Philippines. They were established to bring down the number of smokers through telephone counselling and mobile messaging. It gets its

mandate from the Republic Act 9211 (The Philippine Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003) and Executive Order 26 ( Nationwide Ban of Smoking in Public Places). Both regulatory Acts to protect the public from the harmful effects of smoking, provide quality air and promote healthy living. They were launched to the public on June 19, 2017. According to the reports of the World Health Organization and the Department of Health, smoking is now the leading cause of non-communicable diseases like lung cancer, COPD and other chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. These illnesses will eventually lead to premature death. The trend will continue unless tobacco users quit now. The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), launched phone and mobile-centered support services to help Filipino smokers quit tobacco on June 19, 2017. Harnessing the power and potentials of communication technologies, the DOH now offers Filipinos who want to kick their smoking habits real-time counseling and support through the phone and social media. Quitline 1558 is a toll-free number accessible anytime and anywhere in the Philippines. For the chat-based cessation service, simply visit the mReady2Quit FB page. Services will be available and accessible via SMART/Sun Cellular and Globe. “We are all pleased to share with the public new services that will help them initiate or continue quitting the use of tobacco products,” Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial said. “The ubiquitous availability and reach of telecommunication devices have already enabled numerous possibilities. From effectively bridging the communication gap between people, these devices are now also seen as valuable tools in improving health care delivery systems to address the burden of tobacco use,” she added. Based on the country’s 2015 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), seven in 10 of Filipino smokers would like to quit tobacco. But only 4% of those who smoked in the past 12 months reported success in fully kicking the deadly habit. "The Philippines is once again at the forefront of tobacco control innovation as the first country to launch a mobile tobacco cessation initiative in the Western Pacific Region," WHO Country Representative to the Philippines Dr. Gundo Weiler said. "With the Quitlines, Filipino smokers now have on their hands an accessible way to put into action their intention to quit smoking. The World Health Organization is proud to support this initiative together with the Department of Health and the International Telecommunications Union." Non-communicable diseases-NCDs (cancer, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases) are threat to the Western Pacific Region, to which the Philippines belongs. In 2012 alone, approximately 11 million deaths in the region were due to NCDs, undermining economic development. There are now 1 million less smokers in the Philippines (GATS, 2015), and there is real demand for smoking cessation services as tobacco control programs are strengthened: graphic health warnings are prompting smokers to quit; significant number of local governments are enforcing better smoke-free ordinances and more recently, the President has just signed EO 26 banning smoking in public places nationwide. The Philippines was the logical pilot for the WHO-ITU partnership, ‘Be He@lthy, Be Mobile’ (BHBM) because of the high penetration of mobile telephone in the country. “Cellphone penetration rate in the Philippines was 113% as far back as 2012. Mobile phones provide a reliable and cheap tool to access even the remotest of populations. The Philippines is a highly digitized society with a rapidly growing mobile phone penetration, and it made sense to roll out the mobile cessation here," Secretary Ubial emphasized. The mobile cessation component of DOH’s real-time support services was developed under the the BHBM Initiative. BHBM is a larger movement that looks to exploit to incorporate mobile technology – in particular text messaging and apps – to help combat non-communicable diseases or NCDs. So far nine countries have joined the initiative: Costa Rica, Norway, Philippines, Senegal, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Zambia, India and Egypt. World Health Organization’s (WHO) document on Policy Recommendations for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence says it is difficult to reduce the tobacco-related deaths over the next 30-50 years unless adult smokers are actively encouraged to quit. Both Quitline technologies implement a range of techniques in their communication and messages, including motivation, advice and guidance, and counseling, over telephone and mobile platforms.

23/08/2025
23/08/2025

Lung Center of the Philippines Smoking Cessation Program

22/08/2025

You may not feel it now, but your lungs will.
Va**ng scars lungs. Smoking chokes life. Choose prevention.

18/08/2025
18/08/2025

Have you ever strolled along a university and encountered a huge puff of smoke blown to your face, stressing your day and making it difficult for you to breathe?

Unfortunately, this is not an unusual circumstance. Day by day, people who become users of v**e have gotten younger and younger over time, to the point that seeing students holding them has become a common sight. This increasing interest of the youth towards these kinds of addictive products is alarming, as it genuinely raises public health concerns.

Based on a study in 2024, two out of 10 people have started smoking e-cigarettes before they turn 18 years old.[i] To***co corporations have become wiser and more strategic, imposing more aggressive and well-designed marketing strategies to attract users from the younger generation without resorting to marketing traditional cigarette smoking.

Aside from promoting v**es or e-cigarettes as a healthier alternative to smoking, to***co companies would get creative in making several interesting flavors, designs, and technologies to captivate the youth. More concerning is the fact that they have now made v**es more accessible to the younger population. V**e stores are located in places where their new target market, the youth, are, such as schools and residential areas.

Despite having the Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Ni****ne and Non-Ni****ne Products Regulation Act, which prohibits the sale of v**e products to minors and prevents their promotion, advertising, and product demonstrations within 100 meters of any point of the perimeter of the school, poor implementation leads to its rampant use and is still clearly accessible.

The existing policies and measures in the country are insufficient. The government must be more vigilant in preventing the youth from falling victim to these addictive ni****ne devices. It has long been said that the youth are the future, but what will this future look like if we can’t protect them from the industry trap?

In this year's International Youth Day, with the theme "Local youth action for the SDGs and beyond," local governments, being the closest to the communities they serve, must be proactive in supporting the youth. They shall coordinate with them to further understand the root causes of this issue and collaborate with them in making impactful solutions that will truly empower and protect them, so that they can become the future community leaders and changemakers that our society needs.

[i] Albadrani, M. S., Tobaiqi, M. A., Muaddi, M. A., Eltahir, H. M., Abdoh, E. S., Aljohani, A. M., Albadawi, E. A., Alzaman, N. S., Abouzied, M. M., & Fadlalmola, H. A. (2024). A global prevalence of electronic ni****ne delivery systems (ends) use among students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 4,189,145 subjects. BMC Public Health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20858-2.
***co ***co ***coFreeGeneration **e

15/08/2025

NASA HULI TALAGA ANG PAGSISISI PARA SA MGA HUMIHITHIT NG V**E AT YOSI

Paulit-ulit na paalala, hindi pinakinggan. Ngayon, dahil sa patuloy na pagve-v**e at pagyoyosi, nagkaroon ng sakit sa baga at hirap nang huminga.

Bago mahuli ang lahat, makinig. Kumilos. Huminto.

‘Wag magyosi, ‘wag mag-v**e! Para matulungan ka sa pag-quit, tumawag sa DOH Quitline 1558 📞

**e



14/08/2025

We See Through the Smoke.
Stop Targeting Us.

The to***co industry hides behind ads, influencers, trends, and aesthetic packaging to target youth. These tactics are designed to hook a new generation into addiction, disguised as lifestyle choices.

🛑 See a v**e ad? Report it.
🚫 Influencer promoting v**e? Unfollow.
📣 Catch an online shop targeting youth? Call it out.

We’re not just scrolling past, we’re pushing back.

Not in my feed. Not in my space.

***co ***coAds

14/08/2025
07/08/2025

“Ending to***co use isn’t just a health issue — it’s a youth-led movement for sustainable development.”

Love your Heart, Love your Life, Love Love Love na lang wag na Yosi at V**e. ctto: World Health Organization (WHO)
04/08/2025

Love your Heart, Love your Life, Love Love Love na lang wag na Yosi at V**e.

ctto: World Health Organization (WHO)

You only have one heart; love your heart.

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Our Story

The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), launched phone and mobile-centered support services to help Filipino smokers quit to***co on June 19, 2017. Harnessing the power and potentials of communication technologies, the DOH now offers Filipinos who want to kick their smoking habits real-time counseling and support through a quitline. Quitline is a hotline –165364 then press 3- that smokers can call. For the mobile-based cessation, simply text 'STOPSMOKE' to (29290)165364 – and text messaging will begin support and guidance to quit smoking, instead of actual operators and voice. Services will be available and accessible via SMART/Sun Cellular and Globe. “We are all pleased to share with the public new services that will help them initiate or continue quitting the use of to***co products,” Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial said. “The ubiquitous availability and reach of telecommunication devices have already enabled numerous possibilities. From effectively bridging the communication gap between people, these devices are now also seen as valuable tools in improving health care delivery systems to address the burden of to***co use,” she added. Based on the country’s 2015 Global Adult To***co Survey (GATS), seven in 10 of Filipino smokers would like to quit to***co. But only 4% of those who smoked in the past 12 months reported success in fully kicking the deadly habit. "The Philippines is once again at the forefront of to***co control innovation as the first country to launch a mobile to***co cessation initiative in the Western Pacific Region," WHO Country Representative to the Philippines Dr. Gundo Weiler said. "With the Quitlines, Filipino smokers now have on their hands an accessible way to put into action their intention to quit smoking. The World Health Organization is proud to support this initiative together with the Department of Health and the International Telecommunications Union." he added. Non-communicable diseases-NCDs (cancer, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases) are threat to the Western Pacific Region, to which the Philippines belongs. In 2012 alone, approximately 11 million deaths in the region were due to NCDs, undermining economic development. There are now 1 million less smokers in the Philippines (GATS, 2015), and there is real demand for smoking cessation services as to***co control programs are strengthened: graphic health warnings are prompting smokers to quit; significant number of local governments are enforcing better smoke-free ordinances and more recently, the President has just signed EO 26 banning smoking in public places nationwide. The Philippines was the logical pilot for the WHO-ITU partnership, ‘Be He@lthy, Be Mobile’ (BHBM) because of the high pe*******on of mobile telephone in the country. “Cellphone pe*******on rate in the Philippines was 113% as far back as 2012. Mobile phones provide a reliable and cheap tool to access even the remotest of populations. The Philippines is a highly digitized society with a rapidly growing mobile phone pe*******on, and it made sense to roll out the mobile cessation here," Secretary Ubial emphasized. The mobile cessation component of DOH’s real-time support services was developed under the the BHBM Initiative. BHBM is a larger movement that looks to exploit to incorporate mobile technology – in particular text messaging and apps – to help combat non-communicable diseases or NCDs. So far nine countries have joined the initiative: Costa Rica, Norway, Philippines, Senegal, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Zambia, India and Egypt. World Health Organization’s (WHO) document on Policy Recommendations for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of To***co Dependence says it is difficult to reduce the to***co-related deaths over the next 30-50 years unless adult smokers are actively encouraged to quit. Both Quitline technologies implement a range of techniques in their communication and messages, including motivation, advice and guidance, and counseling, over telephone and mobile platforms.