City ups effort vs smoking of minors

ARMED with a directive from the city mayor’s office, the Iloilo City Anti Smoking Task Force (Icast) is strengthening its efforts to curtail the smoking habits of minors.

Icast is in close coordination with the Philippine National Police and other legal enforcement agencies, including the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board in implementing laws against smoking.

City councilor Joshua Alim, Icast chief, said 60 percent of those apprehended were minors, mostly students, who are caught smoking even inside the campus or in front of their schools.

Alim said the advocacy against smoking will continue as long as there are still smokers in public places and in school campuses.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City was a recent recipient of the Red Orchid Award given by the Department of Health to a local government unit that successfully implements initiatives against smoking. (LCP)