GENERAL SANTOC ITY – Police personnel
in the city are now ready to catch anyone who are smoking in restricted
premises.
A
deputation order coming from City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera was received by
General Santos City Police officer (GSCPO) director Maximo Layugan on Wednesday
(January 20,) which authorizes the police to fully implement the Anti-Smoking
Ordinance.
The
Anti-Smoking Ordinance (Ordinance no. 6 Series of 2015) was enacted by the
Sangguniang Panlungsod-under the directive of Mayor Rivera-to make Gensan a non-smoking
city.
“I want to
make Gensan a non-smoking city, I even stopped smoking for this.” said Mayor
Rivera. “Of course, I want a strict implementation on this. That’s why we have
the police.”
For
individual who will be caught for the first time, a fine of P1,000 will be
charged to them. The maximum fine an individual can incur is P3,000.
Business
establishments in the city are also included in this ordinance. Smoking in
their Non-smoking areas are fineable of P1,000 up to P5,000.
However,
these business establishments may designate a smoking area in their premises.
The barangay treasuries will collect the fines coming from the violators. Those
that cannot pay will be subjected to police inquest.
Police city
director Layugan pledged that the GCSPO will be the city’s partner on enforcing
the said ordinance.
The
anti-Smoking Ordinance of Gensan is not limited in apprehending smokers.
In the
Ordinance, an individual is not also allowed to smoke electronic cigarettes
(vapes) and shisha in public places.
Public
places, as defined by the ordinance, is any form of public conveyances, accommodation
and entertainment establishments, public offices and buildings, School Campuses
both public outdoor spaces, workplaces and government-owned vehicles except in
the duly designated smoking areas within the territorial jurisdiction of
General Santos City.
Selling
cigarettes, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and sisha to minors are also
prohibited by the ordinance.
An Anti-Smoking
Task Force was also created to promote awareness for the said ordinance will be
implemented and enforced.
According
to the department of health (DOH), smoking kills 10 Filipinos per hour. Aside
from the smoking is also attributed to several fatal diseases such as Cancer
and tuberculosis.
Rivera said
that the facts alone should serve as an encouragement to stop smoking already.
“I know
dangerous smoking is because I was a heavy smoker myself. When I stopped, the
withdrawal symptoms almost made me sick for a month” he added.
“I decided
to quit because I think of my family, malulungkot sila Kung may mangyari sa
akin dahil sa paninigarilyo.” (They will be sad if there is something that will
happen to me because of smoking)
“And of
course I cannot perform my job well as the city mayor if I am sick always”, the
mayor emphasized.
The
Anti-Smoking ordinance of Gensan is somehow patterned after the anti-smoking
ordinance of Davao City (Gensan CPIO/Ian John Lagare)
Ok thanks...
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