Crackdown vs “Freedom of Spit” to start soon

April 13, 2019 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY – A region wide crackdown versus “momma” (betel nut) chewing among public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in the highlands will soon start.

Department of Transportation regional director Robert Santiago in his memorandum prohibits PUV drivers to “consume betel nut while rendering service to the public”.

“We will start catching drivers,” he warned, adding, “they will be fined P1,000.00 every time they are caught while franchise owners, P5,000.00”.

Apprehensions start on April 22, almost a month after Santiago’s memorandum on March 25, 2019.

Santiago explained that while respecting highland culture, the drivers’ ban will “ensure the right of the commuting public to adequate, safe, convenient and environment-friendly public transportation by presenting well-groomed drivers to the public and in order to preserve the image of trimness and professionalism of public utility drivers.”

Santiago directed the Land Transportation Franchising Board Cordillera to ensure that drivers follow his directive. Exacting heavier penalties on the franchise owner will prompt him/her to instill discipline to his/her driver because the violation falls under “breach of franchise”, Santiago added.

Santiago said that the department is asking for cooperation especially among franchise holders in the name of a healthy and clean environment.

Though the crackdown is region-wide, pilot-testing starts in Baguio City and Benguet Province where land transportation law enforcers are ample compared to the other 5 provinces in the highland region.

Freedom of spit lost Baguio residents lost their “freedom of spit” when the ban against chewing betel nut and spitting the ‘momma’ juice in public began last year.

Since time immemorial, momma chewing has been a favorite pastime and habit especially among Ifugaos.

Chewing momma includes ingredients such as betel nut, betel leaf or areca, and a white powder made by burning edible shells. Some add dried tobacco leaves.

The chewing of momma produces a red substance that causes stains. Though selling betel nut to adults was not banned in Baguio City as officials understood vendors need to earn a living, they were required to inform customers of the ban.

A fine of P1,000 was imposed for first-time offenders, P2,000 for the second and P3,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.

Vendors found to have sold betel nut to a minor are also fined P3,000 for the first offense and will lose their business permit for a repeat offense.

Baguio City, through Ordinance No. 54, banned spitting in public since 1988. An amendment to the ordinance passed in 2011 also required betel nut chewers to spit in containers.

Despite the ordinances, stains from betel liquid or momma are evident in public places. Containers of momma also litter parks and public utility vehicle terminals.

Health authorities have warned chewing betel nut has no beneficial health effects and according to a 2012 World Health Organization report, “a major effort needs to be made to provide decision-makers with evidence of the serious harm caused by betel nut chewing, with or without tobacco”. Freedoms curtailed everywhere

In recent years, more towns in Ifugao and elsewhere in the highland region have similarly banned the “freedom of spit”.

Lagawe and Kiangan were the first to ban spitting momma in public and Lamut town enacted its own ban in 2011.

Acknowledging that thousands of Ifugaos are addicted to momma chewing, Lamut town said in its ordinance that “regulation is imperative since the spittle spewing from the mouth of betel nut chewers brings out a red liquid that pollutes, makes ugly and unsanitary the area and environment where it is wantonly disposed.”

The ban “protect(s) the health and general welfare of its constituents and the people visiting the community by providing a clean, sanitary and healthful environment.”

The town put up warning signs and spitting bins in public places to accommodate momma chewers. It sent the signal that Lamut town officials, many of whom are momma chewers themselves, care for their citizens.