Anti-smoking campaign nets P2.5 million in fines last year

January 28, 2019 Metro BLISTT

The city’s Smoke Free Task Force (SFTF) apprehended a total of 5,259 violators of the Summer Capital’s Smoke Free Ordinance (Ord. No. 34, series of 2017) last year with fines totalling P2,543,000. Less than half of those apprehended paid fines while the rest were made to do community service.
The consolidated report, based on violation reports from the Baguio City Police Office and Public Order Safety Division (POSD) under the City Mayor’s Office, was presented during the task force’s quarterly meeting at the Health Services Office (HSO).
Task force officer Cecile Agpawa said they trained 156 representatives from various barangays, police personnel, POSD, SITEL, BCEZ-PEZA and HSO who were deputized earlier this month by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, task force chairman, to form part of the Community Smoke Free Task Force in the implementation of Administrative Order No. 136, series of 2018.
The order decentralizes and creates the 16 Community Smoke Free Task Force for the effective and efficient implementation of the Smoke Free Baguio Ordinance who will be under the supervision of the SFTF.
Agpawa said that the group also trained several volunteer lawyers last year to assist in the implementation of the ordinance. She added that they have scheduled more trainings in the coming months to bolster the city’s campaign which has netted Baguio’s first-ever National Red Orchid Award from the Department of Health as a “smoke-free city”.
Authored by Councilor Joel Alangsab, the ordinance prohibits the use, sale, distribution and advertisement of cigarettes/e-cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places, imposing penalties, and providing funds thereof.
Gaby Keith