BACOLOD City Councilor Israel Salanga urged the anti-smoking task force to strictly enforce the Anti-Smoking Ordinance in the city.

Salanga said there are several complaints from the general public through social media that there are many people smoking in public again and disregarding the locally passed law.

"It is necessary to strictly implement the said measure to protect the health of the non-smoking people of Bacolod City, giving them enough space to continually breathe fresh air and free from second hand smoke," he said.

In 2013, the City Government created the task force for the implementation of City Ordinance 641, which regulates smoking in public places, including public conveyances, and advertisements, promotions and sponsorships of tobacco products.

Starting last year until February 2019, more than 1,000 violators, including business establishments, have been apprehended for violation of CO 641.

Salanga said it is prohibited to smoke in a building with no designated smoking areas such as schools, plazas, hospitals, laboratories, clinics, food and beverage factories, public utility vehicles and malls.

Violators will be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense and P2,500 and possible imprisonment for the third offense.

Business establishments will also be fined P1,000 to P5,000 and may lose their business permit if they sell cigarettes to minors or fail to provide the appropriate designated smoking areas.