BAGUIO CITY – Several members of the city’s smoke-free task force chaired by Mayor Mauricio Domogan had an informal coordination meeting recently with representatives of the Baguio City Police Office for the stricter implementation of the Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance that was passed in 2017 with councilor Joel Alangsab as principal author.
Task force officer Dr. Donna Tubera-Panes said the short discussion also pushed for a stronger partnership between health workers, anti-smoking advocates and duly deputized enforcers of Ordinance No. 34, series of 2017.
She is confident that with stricter enforcement, greater cooperation and better coordination among stakeholders in the public and private sectors, Baguio can someday become a truly “smoke-free city”.
The Smoke-Free Baguio ordinance prohibits the use, sale, distribution and advertisement of cigarettes/ e-cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places, and imposes fines on violators ranging from P1,000 to P3,000 for those caught smoking or vaping and from P2,000 to P5,000 for establishments violating its provisions on sales/access restriction, advertising and promotion.
Subsequent offenses are penalized with imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or both at the discretion of the court. Suspension or revocation of business license or permit (in case of a business entity or establishment), if applicable.
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, however, while the rest were made to do community service.
Alangsab is asking every sector to cooperate and work hand-in-hand with the city government in the ordinance’s implementation since everybody deserves to breathe clean air. Assistant city health officer Celia Brillantes also warned about the numerous health risks and deaths caused by smoking that also affects non-smokers thru second and third-hand smoke.**gaby keith
