Philippines: Comprehensive Anti-smoking Ordinance Yields More Arrests and Penalties

Source from:  PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY (ph)  11/12/2013

The Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance in the city yielded P.5-Million in penalties and apprehended more than a thousand violators since its implementation from July to October this year, according to Dr. Domilyn Villareiz, chief of the Anti-Smoking Task Force.

Speaking at the Kapehan sa SM, she disclosed that residents and visitors are more conscious of abiding with the Anti-Smoking Law in public places given its impact to good health.

"Residents feel good of no longer enhaling secondary smoke," Villareiz said.

She said based on the issued citation tickets, a total of 3,301 violators have been apprehended from January to October 2013.

Villareiz said  the City Mobile Group has the most number of arrests this year  at 1,473, followed by the Talomo Police Precinct at 564, Sta. Ana Police Precinct at 234, Sasa Police Precinct at 182 and Public Safety Group 337.

She observed that violators tend to take the issued citation tickets for granted and no longer submit them to the  police within five days, so authorities give extension from one to two weeks.

Villareiz explained that only the second offense will be subject to filing of formal charges in court.

She also stressed that designated smoking areas must be approved by the task group before they can be actually used by smokers. Enditem