DAVAO City's Anti-Smoking Task Force (ASTF) is now drafting provisions for an ordinance promoting 100 percent smoke-free establishments in the city.
ASTF co-chair Dr. Domilyn Villareiz said they will base this on World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) as the country is among the signatories of that treaty.
"The Philippines, being one of the 168-member party signatory to the treaty, should comply to the said international agreement," Villareiz said Wednesday.
The local ordinance will amend provisions of the current Anti-Smoking Ordinance that prohibits smoking in public areas and requires permits for private establishments to be able to create smoking rooms.
Villareiz said the ASTF will also be pushing for the prohibition of smoking in private establishments.
"We are looking at making our city 100 cigarette smoke-free in all establishments. We are pushing that there should also be no allowance to have smoking rooms. This is to comply with the FTCT, which is an international treaty for tobacco control," she said.
On Monday, Villareiz headed the awarding of five city police stations for having the most apprehension of the anti-smoking ordinance violators.
"We have Sta. Ana Police Station on the fifth spot, San Pedro Police Station on the fourth, Buhangin Police Station, Toril Police Station, and Talomo Police Station having the most apprehensions made," Villareiz said.
Last year, these police stations were also the ones who received awards from ASTF,
The ASTF also headed the unveiling of new Anti-Smoking billboards in the city.
"We also had an oath taking of representative from the focal points of the government and women's groups, in line with our campaign for a stronger resistance from the women as we feel that tobacco companies have intensified their advertorials directed at women," Villareiz said.
"Kung napapansin niyo, meron nang kulay pink at orange na mga cigarette boxes when before wala naman ito. This is to invite women and girls to also smoke," she added.
Villareiz also said that ASTF is strongly calling for the compliance of Department of Health Executive Order 13, which called for the printing of physical smoking effects on cigarette boxes.
"We are supporting the administrative order because having visuals on the packaging of cigarettes, this would be a huge help to raise the smokers' consciousness on the consequences or health risks they are about to take. Visuals are extremely helpful especially to the youth and those who cannot read. Having word warnings is not enough," Villareiz said.
She said as a new school year is about to start, cigarette vendors should be aware that selling their products near schools is prohibited.
"They should be 100 meters away from the boundaries of the schools. If they do not follow, then they risk apprehension by the City Business Bureau. Also, we remind that the Anti-Smoking Ordinance prohibits putting cigarette advertorials sa mga tindahan, or making these as the sign board sa mga tindahan because this is also a form of advertising," she added. (JCZ)