THE Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ASTF) lauded the zero smoking apprehension of tourists during the Kadayawan week despite their influx for the festival.
Vice Regulation Unit (VRU) Head Voltaire Engracia said ASTF apprehended less than 200 violators from August 14, the opening of Kadayawan week, to Saturday, August 19, and all of them are local residents in the city.
Engracia said it is a good sign that the tourists are aware that the anti-smoking ordinance in the city is more comprehensive than in other parts of the country after the national implementation of the anti-smoking law.
"Although there are no apprehended tourist violators, what we can point out here is the presence of local violators. There are still Dabawenyos who do not follow our ordinance which is now a national law," he said.
Despite the zero smoking apprehension of tourists in the city, Engracia said ASTF, along with other related agencies on anti-smoking law, still continue their intensified effort to curb smoking violations in the city until today, August 20.
Once caught, he said tourists will still have to pay necessary fees depending on the weight of the violation and they also have to attend the required counseling at VRU's office. Failure to do so means having a recorded violation in the city.
He added that from January to July of this year, ASTF apprehended 500 to 600 violators a month, hoping Dabawenyos to become responsible smokers and reduce the population of violators by next year.