Ordinance banning the chewing and spitting of “Moma” proposed

September 23, 2019 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – An ordinance prohibiting the chewing and spitting of betel quid in certain places was proposed by Councilor Joel Alangsab and was approved on first reading during the City Council’s Regular Session on Monday, September 16, 2019.

The proposed ordinance was referred to the Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology, and Environmental Protection for further study and recommendation. Once approved, the ordinance will be known as the “Anti-Moma Ordinance of Baguio City.”

Under this ordinance, it will be unlawful for any person to chew and/or spit betel quid or “moma” in a public utility vehicle, government-owned vehicle, or any other means of public transport for passengers, in accommodation and entertainment establishment, in public buildings, and in any public place.

The ordinance will not prohibit the selling of betel nuts to adults as Alangsab claims “the city understands the need for betel nut sellers/vendors to earn a living.”

Vendors/sellers will be encouraged to inform their buyers of the prohibitions against chewing “moma” and spitting betel quid in the aforementioned places.

Any person who commits the prohibited acts as specified in the ordinance will pay a fine of P1, 000 for the first offense; P2, 000 for the second offense; and P3, 000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or both at the discretion of the court, suspension, or revocation of business permit (in case of a business entity or establishment) if applicable, for third and subsequent offenses.

A Task Force called Task Force Anti-Moma will be formed to implement and enforce the ordinance and will also conduct educational campaigns, information dissemination programs, and capacity building programs to apprise constituents and train enforcement officers. The same Task Force will prepare the Implementing Rules and Regulations to be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for approval.

The task force will consist of the City Mayor as Chairperson, the City Council’s chairperson on Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology and Environmental Protection as Vice-Chairperson, and representatives from different concerned offices and agencies as members.

In 2011, an ordinance was passed mandating “moma” chewers to spit into containers to ensure the sanitation of public places and to safeguard the health of people in the city.

In 2018, the implementation of the ordinance failed the evaluation of the Legislative Monitoring and Evaluation Section (LMES) of the Research Division under the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Betel nut which is a component of betel quid is declared by the World Health Organization as a carcinogen.

Several studies have shown that betel nut can cause gum irritation, tooth decay, cancer of the mouth and esophagus, cardiovascular diseases and other health problems.

Aj De Jesus Etchepari, SPIO-Baguio