THE implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Executive Order (EO) 26, which sets strict guidelines on designated smoking areas, will be released in July, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said Tuesday.
"We are looking at coming out with the IRR inside the 60-day effectivity period provided by the EO, likely before SONA," said Ubial.
Ubial said they are already crafting the IRR along with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Ports Authority, Land Transportation Office, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Maritime Industry Authority, Department of Tourism, Office of the President, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, and Civil Service Commission.
Noticeably absent from the list is a representative from the tobacco industry.
"We don't think that their representation would in fact add value to the EO," said Ubial.
To note, the Inter-Agency Committee-Tobacco (IAC-Tobacco) created under the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, has a representative of the tobacco industry as among its members.
Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO 26, which imposes a nationwide smoking ban in public places.
The IRR is expected to complement the provisions of the EO 26.
But even without the IRR, the health chief said local government units (LGUs) may already come out with their respective tobacco control ordinances.
"We hope that if we come up with the IRR, the specifics there will be clearer in the implementation. But even without the IRR, it is already implementable," said Ubial.
She said LGUs can easily refer to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) as basis for their ordinances.
"The FCTC is an international treaty that we signed and ratified. That can be the reference point of local ordinances," said Ubial.
The health chief noted how there are local ordinances that are even stricter than the EO 26's provisions as they are anchored on the FCTC, such as the LGU recipients of the Red Orchid Awards.
"Actually, there are LGUs with ordinances stricter than our EOs. That can continue," said Ubial. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)