BAGUIO CITY – A total of 1,908 individuals and establishments were apprehended for violating Ordinance No. 34-2017 or the Smoke-Free Ordinance from January to September this year.
A report presented during the Smoke-Free Task Force meeting Oct. 24 indicated that 1,253 individuals and 655 establishments were rounded up by elements of the Public Order and Safety Division, the Baguio City Police Office and the Community Smoke-Free Task Force in 123 out of the 128 barangays in the city.
The report said a total of P744,000 was collected in penalties from the 386 individuals and 252 establishments that paid their fines.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong who heads the task force said the campaign will be sustained as he reminded residents and tourists to comply with the provisions of the ordinance.
The task force has been actively conducting inspections of establishments in various areas along with the proposed designated smoking areas (DSAs) of those applying for such..
Information-Education-Communication (IEC) campaigns and trainings participated in by the different sectors and the barangays were also sustained.
The city has a total of 405 enforcers deputized for the campaign.
At present, only five establishments have approved DSAs namely Cholo’s Place, Club Myles, Texas Instrument, IHG and Korean Palace.
Ordinance No. 34-2017 approved in April 2017 prohibits the use, sale, distribution and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products in public utility vehicles, government-owned vehicles (mobile and stationary), accommodation and entertainment establishments, public buildings, public places, enclosed public places or any enclosed areas outside one’s private residence or private place of work except in duly designated smoking areas.
The ordinance prohibits smoking or vaping in public places, workplaces, public conveyances or other public places except in designated smoking areas (DSA) duly approved and fully compliant with requirements.
Included in the prohibited acts in the ordinance are “allowing, abetting or tolerating smoking or vaping in accommodation establishments,” smoking inside government-owned or PUV whether moving or stationary or while waiting for passengers; selling or distributing and purchasing tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to minors or ordering them to use, light up, buy, sell, distribute, deliver, advertise or promote tobacco and ENDS products; selling or distributing tobacco products and /or ENDS in a school, public playground or other facility frequented by minors, offices of the Department of Health and attached agencies, hospitals and health facilities or within 100 meters from these places, government facilities.** Aileen P. Refuerzo
