By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
City of Batac—In
support of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s anti-smoking program, the city
government here has totally prohibited tobacco smoking and vaping, or
e-cigarettes, in all designated and public places within this city.
The new directive was based on an ordinance approved by
the Sangguniang Panlungsod authored by Batac councilor Ramon M. Gaoat.
Mr. Gaoat said the measure was in support of the
President’s mandate by virtue of Executive Order No. 26 providing for the
establishment of a smoke-free environment on public and enclosed places.
Republic Act No. 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of
1999, also prohibits smoking inside enclosed public places including public
vehicles and other means of transport, and other enclosed areas directing the
LGUs for strict implementation.
As a doctor of medicine by profession, Mr. Gaoat said
tobacco smoking and vaping with e-cigarette contains nicotine which is highly
addictive and can affect the developing brain and potentially harm teens and
young adults.
He added that scientific evidence has unequivocally
established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and vaping
or the use of e-cigarette cause death, disease disability, devastating health,
social, economic and environment, burdens on families, the poor and on national
and local health system.
Records show the that increasing number of Filipinos’
death is caused by tobacco related diseases such as stroke, heart disease,
emphysema, various cancers and nicotine addiction.
He stressed that the Sangguniang Panlungsod here needs to
enact measures essential to the general welfare of the Batacqueños,
particularly in the preservation and promotion of good health by protecting
them from the harmful effects of smoking ad tobacco consumption, vaping or the
use of e-cigarette.
However, Mr. Gaoat noted that identified smoking areas
are exempted in public places in this city.
To strictly implement said ordinance, the city government
thru the Batac Philippine National Police (PNP) is entitled to apprehend any
person or entity with fines of not less P500 but not more than P1,000 for the
first offense; not less than P1,000 but not more than P1,500 for the second offense;
and not less than P1,500 but not more than P2,000 for the third offense.
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