BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance regulating the chewing, spitting of betel quid or ‘moma’ in public places and selling of ‘moma’ products to minors in the city, imposing penalties for violation and providing funds and for other purposes.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Joel Alangsab stated it shall be unlawful for any person to chew or spit betel quid or ‘moma’ in a private or public utility vehicle, government-owned vehicle or any other means of public transport for passengers, accommodation and entertainment establishment, public building and any public place.
Under the proposed ordinance, the declared unlawful and prohibited acts are chewing or spitting betel quid or ‘moma’ in plain view in public places, work places, or other public places; knowingly allowing, abating, or tolerating chewing or spitting betel quid in accommodation establishments, whether tourism accredited or not; chewing or spitting betel quid while inside a public utility vehicle, whether moving or stationary or while the vehicle is waiting; chewing or spitting betel quid in plain view while inside a private vehicle, whether moving or stationary, or while the vehicle is waiting in a public place or road without the required spittoon; throwing, dumping of leaving of used spittoon in public places, roads, streets, alleys, lagoons, rivers, canals and the like, except in authorized places; emptying, draining or scattering the spit or contents of the spittoon in public places, roads, streets, alleys, lagoons, rivers and creeks, except in the garbage pit and selling of ‘moma’ to minors.
However, chewing or spitting betel quid in plain view in public places during indigenous gatherings shall not be prohibited, provided that, pertinent rules and regulations will be followed to maintain cleanliness and sanitation of the place.
Among the prescribed rules include the fact that no chewing of ‘moma’ without the required spittoon; no emptying, draining or scattering of spit or contents of the spittoon and no throwing, dumping or leaving of used spittoon in the venue of the gathering, except in authorized places.
The ordinance stipulates the persons liable for violation of the measure include any person or entity who commits any of the prohibited acts and persons-in-charge who knowingly allow, abate, authorize or tolerate prohibited acts or who otherwise fails to fulfill the duties and obligations of responsible individuals.
The ordinance discloses any person or entity who commits any of the prohibited acts shall be penalized with a fine of P500 or 4 hours of community service for the first offense, a fine of P1,000 or 6 hours of community service for the second offense and a fine of P2,000 or 8 hours of community service or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months or both at the discretion of the court and suspension or revocation of business license or permit in case of a business entity or establishment if applicable for the third and succeeding offenses.
The ordinance explains if a violator is unable to pay the fines imposed, he or she may choose to render community service within the city, if applicable. The violator who chose to render community service may be turned over to the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) or the nearest barangay concerned for the conduct of the said service.
By Dexter A. See