Gov’t to Penalize Smokers

Starting January next year, smokers will be penalized once caught smoking within the Quezon City Hall compound. City Health Officer Dr. Antonieta Inumerable disclosed that violators of the city’s ban on smoking within the city hall compound will be issued citation tickets. “By 2012, there will be strict enforcement of the provisions of Republic Act 9211 otherwise known as Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 and Civil Service Circular No. 17 and SP-1515 at the QC Hall complex,” said Inumerable. To date, Inumerable said, the QC smoke-free task force, is now in the process of completing the final draft of the violation citation tickets that will be issued. Mayor Herbert Bautista formed the group tasked to strictly enforce the city’s no-smoking policy. Under RA 9211, smoking in absolutely smoke-free areas carries a fine of P500 but not more than P1,000 for first offense; P1,000 but not more than P5,000 for second offense and P5,000 but not more than P10,000, for third offense. “We are not against smokers. But, what we are after is the safety and protection of people against the danger of second-hand smoke,” said Inumerable. City health authorities had already declared an area at the QC Hall football field as the designated smoking area for employees and clients of the city government. To highlight the city government’s efforts to make QC Hall a smoke-free environment, the city health department had launched “Oplan Sita,” which to date, has already resulted in the apprehension of about 1,475 violators since its implementation in September 2010. Of the number, 660 were city hall employees while 815 were visitors. To complement the effort, the city health department has also opened up a smoking cessation clinic at the city hall employees’ clinic to provide counseling to QC hall employees who wanted to kick-off the habit of smoking. Cory Martinez