Council to discuss next week amendment in anti-smoking

THE Davao City Government is determined to regulate smoking in the city as it gears to include all products with nicotine in the ordinance.

This after the city's Anti-Smoking Task-Force, headed by Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz, submitted the proposed amended version of the ordinance.

In Tuesday's regular session, Councilor Melchor Quitain and the rest of the City Council members ruled to defer the ordinance's approval under first reading because it lacks vital details and resource person who can explain the amended version of the city's Anti-Smoking Ordinance.

In the proposed new Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance, Villareiz specifically listed e-cigarettes, sheisha, and other similar devices that should be regulated in Davao City.

Should the proposed new Anti-Smoking Ordinance passes the City Council, smoking in all enclosed or partially enclosed places but allows designated smoking areas outside all public places will no longer be allowed.

The proposed amendment also eyes to implement new rates: first offense -- P1,000 or one month imprisonment or both; second offense -- P2,500 or two months imprisonment; and third offense -- P3,000 or four months of imprisonment.

Narsing Barcelo, local legislative officer of the City Council, told Sun.Star Davao Tuesday that some members of the council, especially Quitain, cited gray areas in the new version of the ordinance.

Among which are the proposed regulation of sheisha across the city as the task force claims that it contains nicotine and only the proposed amendment should only be discussed and not those parts of the ordinance that are not subject of the amendment.

The deferred item will be included in the council's regular session next week, Barcelo said. (Jereco O. Paloma)