BAGUIO CITY – The City Council required the different government offices and various groups to submit their positions relative to the implementation of the city’s comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance and vaping to pave the way for the possible amendment of the existing measure.
The local legislative body decided to require the government offices and the vaping groups, as well as bars and restaurants in the city, to submit their position papers stating their opposition to certain provisions of the anti-smoking ordinance and the needed amendments to be introduced to allow the local legislators to evaluate and assess the wisdom of their proposals prior to amending the existing edict.
Earlier, various vape shops in the city petitioned the local government to stop the closure of all vape shop businesses pending their petition for the amendment of the city’s anti-smoking and vaping ordinance.
Under Ordinance No. 34, series of 2017, the prohibited acts include smoking or vaping in enclosed or partially enclosed public places, work places, public conveyances or other public places such as those previously enumerated, except in designated smoking areas duly approved and fully compliant with the requirements; knowingly allowing, abating, or tolerating smoking in accommodation establishments whether tourism-accredited, except when smoking within the duly designated smoking areas; smoking while inside a government-owned or public utility vehicle whether moving or stationary or while solicitation of passengers is on-going or while the vehicle is waiting; for persons-in-charge to allow, abate or tolerate smoking or vaping in public places outside of approved designated smoking areas; selling or distributing tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) to minors; purchasing tobacco products or ENDS from minors; ordering, instructing or compelling a minor to use, light up, buy, sell, distribute, deliver, advertise or promote tobacco products or ENDS; selling or distributing tobacco products and ENDS in a school, public playground or public facility frequented by minors, offices of the Department of Health and attached agencies, hospitals and health facilities or within 100 meters from any point in the perimeter of the said places; selling of tobacco products and ENDS within premises of a government facility; selling tobacco products and ENDS without a business permit to sell the same; selling of tobacco products or ENDS as individual pieces or per stick or piece; selling tobacco products and ENDS removed from its original product packaging or without the proper government-regulated and approved health warning; selling of tobacco products and ENDS by ambulant or street vendors, including other mobile or temporary stalls, kiosks, stations or units; selling or distributing of sweets, snacks, toys or any other objects in the form of tobacco products which may appeal to minors; placing cinema or outdoor advertisements of tobacco products or ENDS; placing, posting, displaying or distributing advertisements and promotional materials of tobacco products of ENDS such as but not limited to leaflets, posters, display structures and other materials within an establishment when such establishment or its location is prohibited from selling tobacco products or ENDS; placing, posting, displaying or distributing advertisements and promotional materials of tobacco products and ENDS that show brand name; conducting promotional advertisements, campaigns, events, product sampling, and the like, where the establishment or its location is prohibited from doing so; displaying and placing tobacco products or ENDS in open store shelves and facilitation, participation or partnership engaged by any government official or personnel, regardless of employment status in any form of contribution, sponsorship or corporate social responsibility activity, event, program or project by a tobacco company, tobacco industry front groups, or any representation working to protect tobacco industry interest expected for or within the jurisdiction of the city with the aim, effects or likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or ENDS, its use either directly and indirectly.
By Dexter A. See
