Task force identifies 12 smoking areas

AS DESIGNATED smoking areas were identified, a billiard hall was shut down for violations of the local law.

The smoke-free task force announced the approval of a dozen smoking areas at IHG, Texas Instruments, Korean Palace Restaurant, Club Myles, Cholo's Place, Café Will, Lemon & Olives, Chakamanm, Alfer Bldg, Concentrix 1 & 2, CAP Bldg, CJH and the Manor.

Councilor Joel Alangsab said the first set of establishments were able to comply with requirements set by the City Health Office (CHO) as well as the city on the setting up of designated smoking areas for their business.

Alangsab said the delegation of smoking areas does not impede the anti-smoking drive of the city, but gives establishments which have complied with additional requirements set by the health office in providing smoking section for smokers to legally position themselves without fear of apprehension.

From 2018 to 2019, P6.2 million was collected by the anti-smoking task force with the collected fees placed in a trust fund to be used for the city tobacco control program.

In 2019, the anti–smoking task force apprehended 3,288 individuals with 729 of them paying fines while 1,194 establishments violated the ordinance with 561 paying.

Last week, a bar-cum-billiards joint became the first establishment to be closed by the city government for blatant and multiple violations of Ordinance No. 34 series of 2017 or the “Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance.”

Joint elements from the City Permits and Licensing Office, Public Order and Safety Division, the Baguio City Police Office, Smoke-Free Baguio Project Team-The Union and the barangay padlocked the Agpad Bar and Billiards along Kabayanihan St. on the strength of the closure order issued on the same day by Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

The POSD on Jan. 17 recommended the revocation of the business permit of said establishment for repeatedly violating the ordinance which prohibits the use, sell/distribution and advertisement of tobacco cigarette, other tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

The establishment had seven citation tickets by POSD enforcers and three by the barangay.

The Smoke-Free Task Force said several reports from the concerned local netizens and citizens reported violations such as smoking in public place, allowing smoking and selling cigarettes without permit to sell.

Apart from the smoking infringements, the establishment was also called out for being unsanitary. With a report from Baguio City Public Information Office.

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