By Pamela Mariz Geminiano/PNA
BAGUIO CITY — The city’s anti-smoking task force has brought PHP2.54 million into the local government’s coffers from fines paid for violation of the anti-smoking ordinance.
“There were 5,259 arrested for violating the ‘Smoke-free Baguio’ ordinance in 2018, who paid fines,” Gaby Keith of the city information office said Friday.
Under the ordinance, a violator pays PHP1,000, PHP2,000, and PHP3,000 for the first, second, and third offense, respectively. Those who cannot pay were made to do community service.
Keith said the consolidated report was based on records presented by the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and Public Order Safety Division (POSD) during the task force’s recent meeting.
Ordinance 34-2017 or the “Smoke-free Baguio”, which took effect in May 2017, prohibits the use, sale, distribution, and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places, imposing penalties, and allotting corresponding funds.
In its initial stages of implementation, the task force was the only one apprehending violators.
To boost the implementation of the ordinance, Mayor Mauricio Domogan issued Administrative Order (AO) 136 on September 8 last year, forming district task forces to implement the ordinance in barangays outside the central business district.
Some 156 persons trained to serve as task force members in the barangays that made up the 16 Community Smoke Task Force.
The task force also trained several volunteer lawyers last year to assist the implementers.