Philippines: ''Anti-smoking Ordinance Needs Strict Enforcement''

Source from:  Visayan Daily Star (ph)  04/08/2013

The need to revisit the smoke-free ordinance of Dumaguete was stressed by Dumaguete City Administrator William Ablong yesterday.

Ablong said the city government has only three full time government employees acting as smoke-free enforcers, and after 5 p.m., and on weekends, no duly-authorized personnel enforces the law against smoking in public places.

This hampers the city government efforts to maintain watch over business establishments violating the ordinance, he added.

He lamented that barangay tanods and those deputized at the start of the ordinance implementation last year have slowed down their smoke-free campaign. Ablong said he believes this is due to the measly honorarium they receive.

Resto-bar proprietor Sandy Fuentes complained yesterday that his business establishment was being singled out, and challenged smoke-free enforcers to visit other businesses in Dumaguete to check if they are complying with the ordinance.

Ablong admitted that not all business establishments and commercial buildings in the city are doing so and, some have even removed the campaign materials after the release of their business licenses, he added.

Ablong said he will call for a meeting with the City Health Office on the issue.

He added that, for the anti-smoking measure to be successful, barangay tanods should be given incentives to strictly enforce the ordinance. Enditem