Philippines: Tobacco Lobby Seen in Cavite Law''s Death

Source from:  Malaya (ph)  03/27/2013

THE Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) yesterday blamed tobacco manufacturers for the rejection by the Cavite Provincial Board of Tagaytay City's ordinance that seeks to ban smoking, including electronic cigarettes, in all public areas.
 
In a statement, the FCAP said it cannot think of any other reason the law, which was unanimously approved by Tagaytay's City Council, was thumbed down by Cavite's Provincial Board.

"We cannot rule out the tobacco industry's role in any watered-down, smoke-free ordinance including its crafting, passage, implementation, and enforcement. There is big business to protect in every smoke-free ordinance that goes out there," said the FCAP.
 
In its ruling, the Cavite provincial board said the ordinance is an "invalid local legislation" because it supposedly went beyond the provisions of Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 in terms of how the national law defines "public places."
 
But FCAP said the Cavite provincial board was inconsistent because it approved a similar law passed by the municipality of Carmona in December 2011.
 
It said the Philippines being a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is enough reason to approve the ordinance.
 
It said the international treaty provides that a local government unit may enact an ordinance that has greater restrictions than RA 9211 if such legislation is deemed responsive to the needs of the local government and its constituents. Enditem