ANTI-SMOKING ORDINANCE

Smoking violators to be issued

citation tickets starting May 31

The Davao City Anti-Smoking Task

Force will begin issuing citation tickets to
individuals who will be violating the New
Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance
starting May 31, the 11th year of the citys
original Comprehensive Anti-Smoking
Ordinance which was enacted in 2002.

According to Anti-Smoking Task Force

head Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz, the citation
ticket will indicate the specific violation and
the corresponding administrative penalty.
The person issued with the ticket has the
option to either contest the violation in court
or voluntarily pay the penalty of P500 imposed upon him or her to avoid being criminally prosecuted
within 3 days from apprehension.

It is clearly stated however that the no contest provision can only be availed once and that the
violator must undergo smoking cessation counselling. Failure to undergo counselling still warrants the
filing of a case in court.

Ordinance No. 0367-12, Series of 2012, known as The New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking
Ordinance was passed by the City Council last year and approved by Mayor Sara Duterte early this
year. The said ordinance repealed inconsistent provisions of original comprehensive anti-smoking
ordinance.

Aside from the issuance of citation tickets, the new ordinance now prohibits smoking of any
tobacco product including e-cigarettes, shishas and the like, in all accommodation and entertainment
establishments, workplaces, enclosed public places, partially enclosed public places, public buildings,
public outdoor spaces and all public conveyances, government-owned vehicles and other means of
public transport within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City.

Likewise, the designated smoking area of commercial and business establishments must now be
located in an open outdoor space with no permanent or temporary roof or walls located 10 meters
away from entrances or exits with an area not larger than 5 square meters. All establishments caught
violating this provision will be fined a maximum of P5,000 or 4 months imprisonment.

The Anti-Smoking Task Force already started a series of orientations to concerned parties
including officials of the barangay, school administrators, restaurants owners and managers, tourism
establishments and other business establishments supervisors to inform them of the new anti-smoking
ordinance. (CIO)