by Thiago Santos November 11, 2022 Batangas Province Smoke-Free Task Force (Photo from Batangas PIO) BATANGAS CITY - On October 20th, the Ba...
November 11, 2022
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| Batangas Province Smoke-Free Task Force (Photo from Batangas PIO) |
BATANGAS CITY - On October 20th, the Batangas Province Smoke-Free Task Force held a forum at the Provincial Cooperative Livelihood and Enterprise Development Office (PCLEDO) to discuss the proper implementation of Provincial Ordinance No. 006-2019, also known as the No Smoking and Vaping Ordinance, authored by Arlene Magboo, 2nd District Board Member.
Gov. Hermilando "Dodo" Mandanas, task force chairperson, and Dr. Rosvilinda Ozaeta, vice chairperson, led the discussion.
The Smoke-Free Task Force has been formed and is expected to promote the implementation, enforcement, and monitoring of such ordinance, as well as the existence of educational awareness campaigns, information dissemination projects, and capacity-building programs to ensure the successful implementation of such law.
Bokal Magboo, Chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Batangas' Committee on Health, discussed the task force and its member offices and agencies.
“Sa pamamagitan ng provincial ordinance na ito, inaasahan natin na ang bawat bayan at lungsod sa lalawigan ng Batangas ay magkakaroon din ng kaukulang ordinansa at task force na makakatuwang sa pagpapatupad ng batas sa bawat barangay sa lalawigan,” said Magboo.
There was a lengthy debate and exchange of ideas about the content of the ordinance's Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), which included the imposition of penalties, the issuance of citation tickets to violators, the payment of fines, community service, and even possible imprisonment.
According to data from the Department of Health (DOH)-Batangas Province, eight million people died of smoking, with seven million dying directly from the disease and one million dying from inhaling the smoke.
According to the study, one in every four Filipinos smokes, including one in every ten young people, and P188 billion is spent annually on health and medical issues related to smoking.
One of the agreements reached at the meeting was for the task force to contact the province's local governments to solicit suggestions to implement this law.(MDC/PIA-Batangas with report from PIO Batangas Province)
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