Written by Zhein Carlo Molina
Disciplinary actions will now be lifted for voluntary surrenderers of prohibited items as the University of Baguio (UB) launches a pioneering initiative, the Project Safe-Drop. This project is the first-ever amnesty vape drop-box implemented not only in the City of Baguio but also in the whole Philippines, as per Dr. Donnabel T. Panes. This project allows students and other stakeholders of the university to voluntarily surrender their cigarettes, vaping devices, and other paraphernalia such as lighter, match, and deadly weapons in a voluntary manner through safe-drop boxes on campus. The project is a partnership and amnesty-based initiative of the Office of Student Affairs, Security Office, Risk Management Office, Campus Planning and Development Office (CPDO), and Supreme Student Council.
The official launching of this initiative was conducted on April 8, 2026 with the presence of the City Government’s Smoke-Free Baguio Taskforce, represented by Tobacco Control Coordinator Dr. Donnabel T. Panes, together with the University President Dr. Javier Herminio D. Bautista, Vice President for Administration Atty. Rommel P. Ayson, and other Directors from CPDO, Security, RMO, OSA, Student Supreme Council, and Student Legislative Council, who joined the ribbon cutting as a symbol of commitment to supporting a smoke-free and safe learning environment. A brief presentation of the policy at the Smart AVR Room occurred thereafter, where Dr. Foilan C. Aspa shared the rationale, purpose, and objectives of the said protocol.
Meanwhile, the policy wrote that the purpose of this protocol is to “reduce the presence and use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) within school premises and to address the increasing incidents and recorded cases of students bringing [and using] cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and even other prohibited items.
The students or stakeholders who wish to surrender any of the prohibited items may drop it to the boxes, which will be stationed and monitored in different university entrances, including the Food Court, Main Entrance, Buildings A, B, and H, Science High School, and Regular High School entry points.
However, students who entered the university and were found to have brought such prohibited items will still be sanctioned according to the student code of conduct and the memorandum D no. 19, series of 2023 or the Reiteration of the Smoke-Free Campus Policy. Therefore, the amnesty from sanctions applies only to those who genuinely and voluntarily surrender prohibited items before entering the university; thus, possession of these items once inside, if detected by security or university personnel, will result in immediate sanctions.
Indeed, the university is one with the Baguio City Government in maintaining and advancing a smoke-free and safe environment for all of its constituents, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, such as Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Climate Action (SDG 13), Life on Land (SDG 15), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) as it promotes environmental protection, health consciousness, and safe and peaceful learning space for all the university’s stakeholders, especially students.
