Health advocate group wants anti-smoking policy modelled after Davao City ordinance
Though known to be prohibited by law, cigarette smoking in public places is rampant anywhere.
In line with this, a health advocate group wants a stricter law on the smoking ban in the country.
Emer Rojas of the New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP) said, that the best way to do it is to adopt the anti-smoking ordinance of Davao City.
“Sa Davao po kasi bawal talaga pati sa mga enclosed places. Bawal din e-cigattes at tsaka yung shisha. Hindi lang sigarilyo ang bawal kundi ‘yung mga other forms of smoking o other forms of tobacco use,” NVAP President Emer Rojas said.
(In Davao, smoking is prohibited even in enclosed places. E-cigarettes and shisha are also banned. Cigarettes are not the only ones restricted but other forms of smoking or other forms of tobacco use)
Public smoking and tolerating public smoking is banned in Davao City. These were strictly implemented by President Rodrigo Duterte when he was still mayor.
Smoking cigarettes, tobacco, e-cigarettes or similar devices is prohibited, including in public vehicles.
Davao’s Anti-Smoking Task Force makes sure business establishments follow the prescribed parameters for smoking. Each establishment is allowed only one open-space smoking area measuring not more than five square meters and located 10 meters from doors.
Violators face penalties based on the frequency of their offense: P1,000 fine or month-long jail time for the first offense, P2,500 or two-month jail time for the second offense, and P5,000 or four months in jail for the third offense.
Republic Act 9211 or known as the “Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003” prohibits smoking in public places.
But the group believes that this is not fully implemented because they can still see smokers everywhere.
“’Yung Republic Act 9211, mayroon ng prohibition sa paninigarilyo sa public places. Kaya lang, una, hindi ito naipapatupad nang talagang matindi. Pangalawa, kailangan palakasin mo ito dahil doon mayroon pa rin prohibition na manigarilyo sa enclosed places,” Rojas stressed.
(Republic Act 9211 prohibits smoking in public places, however, it is not strictly implemented. Secondly, you have to strengthen it to include enclosed places)
Based on the last study conducted by the World Health Organization, there are 10 Filipinos die everyday due to cigarette smoking.
And more than 17 million out of more than 63 million adults are cigarette smokers.
That is why it is still good to know that there are still many who are against smoking especially in public places
“’Yung iba kasi na hindi nanigarilyo, makalanghap ng usok, magkaroon sila ng sakit,” Romer Hanyer, a smoker, said.
“Payag rin sir, kasi marami epekto sa katawan yan. Cancer, sa baga,” Eugene Pascua replied when asked if he favors the said policy. — Mon Jocson | UNTV News & Rescue
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