BAGUIO CITY – The Smoke-Free Baguio Task Force will spearhead a parade dubbed, “Hike and Bike for a Smoke Free Life” on February 28 to usher this year’s Smoke Free calendar of activities aimed at highlighting the city government’s unrelenting anti-smoking campaign that had netted more than five thousand violators last year.
The parade will start 10 am from the Baguio Convention Center, traverse Session and Harrison roads and end at the Athletic Bowl oval where a program will ensue with city government and local health officials including representatives , transport group representatives and other concerned agencies expected to attend. A health fair will be conducted after the short program.
City health officer Rowena Galpo said the task force has enjoined the assistance of the local transport sector in the extensive implementation of the Smoke Free Ordinance that was passed in 2017 by the city council and principally authored by councilor Joel Alangsab.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan, task force chairman, earlier issued a memorandum directing task force officers and members including three to five representatives from all city government departments to participate during the parade and program.
The event will focus on various activities scheduled this year including the signing of a Pledge of Commitment and a Media Hour to further remind and encourage the public to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance.
Ordinance number 34, series of 2017, prohibits the use, sale, distribution, and advertisement of cigarettes/e-cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places, imposing penalties and providing funds thereof.
Earlier, the smoke-free task force reported a total of 5,259 violators of the ordinance were apprehended last year with fines totaling P2,543,000. Less than half of those apprehended paid the fines while the rest were made to do community service.**gaby keith
