ANGELES CITY -- A village chairman in this city has expressed support to the nationwide smoking ban which took effect last July 23 by providing several prohibited acts to business owners and managers.
Rodelio Mamac, chairman of Balibago village, aired during a forum last Tuesday his support to Executive Order (EO) Number 26 Series of 2017 entitled “Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-Free Environments in Public and Enclosed Places” which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on May 16.
He said that smoking within enclosed public places, whether stationary or in motion, is prohibited.
The village chief said that he has chosen a designated smoking area (DSA) inside the village hall to protect children and other people from the so called “secondhand smoke.”
DSAs should comply with the standards required under Section 4 of the executive order, according to Mamac.
He said smoking areas should have no openings that will allow air to escape to the smoking-free area of the building or conveyance.
DSAs should also have ventilation system independent of other exhaust system servicing the rest of the building, Mamac said.
EO 26 stipulates that no DSAs should be installed in all youth centers like schools, recreational facilities, elevators, stairwells, fire-hazard locations, hospitals, health centers, medical clinics, nursing home, food preparation areas, and others.
The EO imposes fines of up to P10,000 for violation of the smoking ban in public places as prescribed in Section 32 of the Tobacco Regulation Act.
Enforcement can be performed by members of the Philippine National Police and the local forces of each city and municipality.
Fines are P500 to P1,000 for the first offense; P1,000 to P5,000 for the second offense; and P5,000 to P10,000 for the third offense and revocation of business permit or license to operate of the violating establishment.