DESPITE the signing and effectivity of Executive Order (EO) No. 26 that imposes a nationwide smoking ban, there is as it seems the lack of serious implementation of the same. The said EO is a law that needs to be adhered to by the people.
Since the ban on smoking is supposedly enforced nationwide, the subjects that need to obey the said law are the Filipinos. It simply means that no one is exempted to the said order.
Like other laws, which are actually important pieces of legislation, are simply not enforced effectively or disregarded. The seemingly ineffective measure is caused maybe by the slack implementation or by the public’s wanton disregard of such.
The poor implementation is maybe due to lack of law enforcers who would monitor and apprehend smokers in public or their ignorance of the existence of such law particularly EO 26. Some law enforcers, even if they are aware of the nationwide smoking ban, seem not to mind at all the people who violate the said order.
By the way, the EO prohibits smoking in enclosed public places and public utility vehicles, selling of cigarettes to minors, minors smoking or selling cigarettes and other tobacco products. Selling or distributing tobacco in schools, public playgrounds and other areas frequented by minors is also not allowed.
With the provisions of the EO now in effect since July 22, establishments can no longer put up indoor smoking areas. They have the option to establish smoking areas outdoors and far from people who do not smoke.
Violators of the order would be slapped with a fine from P500 to P10,000 depending on the number of offenses. Establishments who do not comply with the country’s smoke-free policy will be fined P5,000 or jailed.
Again, like other laws in the country, the implementation of EO 26 seems to be so poor that the very essence of the existence of such law is defeated.
Just recently, I saw by chance a public utility jeepney driver with a stick of a lighted cigarette on his hand while picking-up passengers. The act is a vivid violation of the EO. He may be ignoring the said law or simply does not know anything about the law. For the latter reason, such ignorance does not excuse him anyway on his non-compliance.
A colleague of mine who went to Congress during the President’s State of the Nation Address a few days ago, had told me that there were some congressmen in their full formal attire who smoked in some of the Batasan buildings’ hallways.
In addition to the poor implementation of the EO, it can be observed that there is the lack of marketing or information dissemination to the public on the effectivity of the order. Perhaps, the Department of Health may come up with television advertisements that inform the people on the existence of a nationwide prohibition on smoking in public and the penalties included in the said law.
If more people would just know of the EO, they might be in addition to those on the other hand, who obey the law. There is nothing wrong in obeying such EO. Besides, the law aims to provide a smoke-free environment and for the good health of smokers and non-smokers alike.
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