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Tuesday, July 01, 2003
Cabaero: Smoking room
By Nini B. Cabaero
Beyond 30
When you see a “Smoking Room” sign, what do you feel?
Do you, as a smoker, rush to that room for relief? Do you, a non-smoker, snicker at those rushing to the room and tell yourself those people deserve each other and if they die inside that contemporary gas chamber they are to blame? Do you simply shrug and accept a smoking room at the airport lounge as nothing but respect for the differences among men and women?
President Arroyo last month signed into law Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act regulating the use, sale, packaging, distribution and promotion of tobacco products in the country. It prohibits smoking in all public places like schools, airports, recreational places, malls and restaurants. Tobacco advertising would be prohibited and tobacco companies cannot anymore sponsor sports, cultural and education programs. Minors cannot buy tobacco products and the ill effects of smoking will be included in the school curriculum.
Violators will be fined not less than P500 and not more than P400,000 and face imprisonment for a month to three years.
The law is in compliance with the World Health Organization memorandum for governments to help control smoking.
In Cebu, local government units (LGUs) support the law but are asking that the implementing rules and regulations be crafted to guide them in its execution. Like the Clean Air Act that has a provision against smoking, enforcement of the law would depend on the LGUs. It is the local government that would designate smoke-free and smoking areas in public places.
The smokers I know are not that different from non-smokers. They are reasonable people. They too have families. They too are responsible members of society. They too want smoking to be regulated to protect their environment, community and children. And, they too, as their fellow brothers and sisters, applaud the passage of the law for a smoke-free world.
Before they light up, they normally look around for a smoking room or a designated area. They look if there are children around or those who would be offended by their second-hand smoke. In a group, they ask if anyone would mind if they lighted a cigarette. They have respect for other people because they expect others to show respect for them.
Yes, the sooner the implementing rules and regulations are crafted, the better for smokers and non-smokers. The rules will put into effect the prohibitions and will ensure there are facilities for society to continue to respect differences among people. There will be no need to ostracize smokers or discriminate against them. Smokers need not be reduced to “fugitives” puffing at their cigarettes in corners with their eyes on the watch for law enforcers.
The rules will put the smoke out of any over zealousness to crush smoking. So that the next time you see a “Smoking Room” sign you will know it is just another rest area, like a restroom, only this time for a different kind of relief.
(Ms. Cabaero can be reached at e-mail address ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)
(July 1, 2003 issue)
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