ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) is warning the public of stiffer penalties for violation of the city’s anti-smoking ordinance, as it gears to re-launch the amended version for widest information dissemination anytime this month.
In an interview Monday, ICAST Head of Operations Karl Maridable said the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has approved the amendment of the ordinance that increased penalties for any violation in December last year.
These include increasing penalties for individual violators to PHP1,000 on first offense; PHP1,500 on second offense and PHP5,000 on third offense. For establishments, the penalty is PHP2,000 on first offense; PHP3,000 second offense and PHP5,000 on third offense or cancellation of their business permit.
He said that they are focused on enforcement and advocacy, especially that classes have already started, and many of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders are not yet aware of the ordinance.
He disclosed that from January to May this year, the task force apprehended 3,103 individuals, 2,672 of whom are civilians. The task force also cited 244 students, 163 public utility drivers and 24 minors for violating the city anti-smoking ordinance.
The apprehensions were mostly done in peripheries of clubs, bars, and other business establishments.
Maridable said the amended ordinance also includes prohibition of vaping because its effect is more harmful when compared with tobacco and cigarettes. He revealed that while the apprehension is not that high, most of the users of the electronic cigarettes or vapers are students.
“We are working double time on our enforcement to sustain our campaign,” he said, adding that their task force is operating in every district of the city.
He also said selling of cigarettes within the 100-meter radius of schools, hospitals, public plazas, government buildings and clinics and laboratories is not allowed under the amended ordinance.
A team was designated to measure the distance, he said. Establishments found tolerating smoking will be given citation tickets.
Meanwhile, Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, head of the Iloilo City Smoking Cessation Clinic, said that the smokers apprehended by the ICAST made up the majority of their clientele.
He said the clinic, which is both available at the city hall and all district health centers, caters to three types of clients.
“We have different types of programs for different clienteles,” Fortuna said.
First are those who have no plans to quit but were apprehended by ICAST so they are required to seek counseling at the center. They will be encouraged to stop smoking as they are lectured of its benefits.
The second type are unsure or still contemplating on quitting and the last type are those who are willing and determined to quit smoking.
He said that before, majority of their clients were due to ICAST apprehension but as the information spread about the clinic, they already have accommodated clients who seek guidance on how to quit smoking.
At the city hall clinic, he said 15 of their clients have stopped smoking last year.
“During our counseling, we do not suggest tapering down but it should be outright. We will be teaching them techniques on how to cope with it and divert their attention instead of smoking,” he added. (Perla Lena/PNA)
