Anti-smoking task force pushed

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia has proposed an amendment to give more teeth to the anti-smoking ordinance of the city.

Garcia wants an inter-agency task force to be created to strictly implement the ordinance.

"There is a need to strengthen the implementation of the provisions of Ordinance No. 2241 in line with the national government's aim of regulating smoking in areas accessible to the public," reads the proposed amendment.

Garcia, who does not smoke, said that all establishments in the city should have a designated smoking area which is open and not enclosed, adding that the area must not be within 10 meters from any entrance or exits of any nearby establishment.

Under the proposed amendment, the task force should be composed of personnel from the City Health Department, Building Official, City Treasurer's Office, City Engineer's Office, Council's chairperson of the committee on health, Cebu City Police Office, Cebu City Environment and Natu-ral Resources Office, Association of Barangay Councils, Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines, and a representative from the private sector.

The function of the task force includes monitoring and inspecting the compliance of the smoking ban in public places, the designated smoking areas, among others.

The Philippine National Police shall be commissioned as enforcers and to apprehend the violators of the ordinance.

Garcia, however, did not propose any amendment to the existing fine which is P3,000 for the first offense, P4,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 and one year imprisonment for the third offense.

In an interview, Garcia said unlike in the previous ordinance, establishments can designate a particular area, which means close spaces are allowed as long as there's exhaust.

"In this ordinance, naa gihapoy designated nga smoking area, but it must be open, dili na pwede enclosed and then another provision nga lahi sa old is that the designated smoking area must not be located within 10 meters from entrances and exits," he said.

Garcia, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, said the proposed amendment is in keeping with the national government's policy to ban smoking in public places.

Garcia referred the proposed amendment to the council's committee on laws for its comments and recommendations.

He said he is hoping that Mayor Tomas Osmeña will not veto his proposed amendment. Osmeña earlier expressed that the national smoking ban would affect the tourism of the country.

"But then again, imong tan-awon what is really important: the health of the people or tourism? Para nako, I think people can really do away with smoking. They can just really go to open spaces and smoke," Garcia said. (FREEMAN)