Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Anti-smoking campaign to instill discipline
By Lory Ann B. Bilbao
THE Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Taskforce (Icast) Head and City Councilor Julienne Baronda asked cooperation among smokers in the city's public places and vehicles, to cooperate.
She said anti-smoking ordinance is not to gain money but to instill discipline.
Baronda, who has prepared for the final implementation of the anti-smoking ordinance, said that the City Government, which she represents, is not after the money or fines that will be collected from the violators.
The said ordinance was in line with the vision of a smoke free Iloilo City in 2010.
The anti-smoking ordinance, which prohibits smoking in public conveyances and public vehicles, will be implemented by more or less by 500 Icast members on Wednesday, June 28.
The Icast members include traffic auxiliaries, barangay tanod members and non-government organization members.
The implementation consists of apprehensions and filing of appropriate case before the court, the smoking violations.
The anti-smoking ordinance prohibits smoking in places like malls, restaurants, movie and disco houses, hospitals, hotel lobbies, school rooms and buildings (covered gyms), gasoline stations, and all government offices or buildings and private offices offering services to the public. The same ordinance included public vehicles as smoke free.
The said public places have designated smoking areas, said Baronda. In malls, for example, they already have smoking areas.
Violators will be fined P500 each or imprisonment of two days or both. Drivers who fail to apprehend their passengers who smoke, will also be held liable of the same.
Their driving license will be confiscated and will only be returned after payment of the P500 fine to be made in the City Treasurer's Office (CTO).
The administrator, owner, operator, or manager of any establishment referred to as smoke-free areas will also be held liable for the violation of persons in their establishment.
A fine of P1,250 will be sought from first offenders; P4,000 for second offenders, and P5,000 and automatic suspension of business permit for one week for the third offenders and P5,000 will be imposed as fine and cancellation of business permit upon proper recommendation of the Icast to the city mayor.
Posters and notices of non-smoking were already posted in public conveyances and in public utility vehicles.
Tampering, alteration and or removal of the same will also be considered an offense and those caught will be fined P300.
(June 27, 2006 issue)
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