MMDA extols Mandaluyong City's relentless anti-smoking operations
Published Feb 26, 2019 09:00 pm
By Jel Santos
The local government of Mandaluyong City was lauded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for the continuous strict implementation of its anti-smoking ordinance.
Danilo Lim
Danilo Lim, MMDA chairman, said the agency recognizes the efforts of Mandaluyong City in promoting better health by enforcing City Ordinance No. 671, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance of the City of Mandaluyong.”
The ordinance was enacted and approved by Mandaluyong City Council on July 17, 2017, seeking to regulate the use, sale, distribution, and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products within the territorial jurisdiction of Mandaluyong.
“I would like to express my warmest congratulations to the local government of Mandaluyong for its relentless efforts in the implementation and enforcement of a 100% smoke-free policy,” the MMDA chairman said.
Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos shared how they struggled implementing their ordinance during the three-day Smoke-Free Environment Policies Training of Mandaluyong barangay captains and enforcers held last month in Balanga City, Bataan.
She said that many ‘sari-sari store owners complained to her about the confiscation of cigarettes, but the tobacco ban continued in order for it to become successful.
“At first, implementing the ordinance was very hard. Many sari-sari store owners told me that their cigarettes were confiscated, and were destroyed. But if we will not do such, we are tolerating tobacco in the city. The drive to be tobacco-free will be useless,” Abalos said in Filipino.
The city’s Smoke-Free Task Force (SFTF), together with the MMDA, has been monitoring the selling of tobacco products in public establishments, especially near school premises.
In 2018, a total of 6,283 smokers were apprehended in public places while 292 store owners were arrested for selling cigarettes near schools.
Danilo Lim
Danilo Lim, MMDA chairman, said the agency recognizes the efforts of Mandaluyong City in promoting better health by enforcing City Ordinance No. 671, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance of the City of Mandaluyong.”
The ordinance was enacted and approved by Mandaluyong City Council on July 17, 2017, seeking to regulate the use, sale, distribution, and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products within the territorial jurisdiction of Mandaluyong.
“I would like to express my warmest congratulations to the local government of Mandaluyong for its relentless efforts in the implementation and enforcement of a 100% smoke-free policy,” the MMDA chairman said.
Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos shared how they struggled implementing their ordinance during the three-day Smoke-Free Environment Policies Training of Mandaluyong barangay captains and enforcers held last month in Balanga City, Bataan.
She said that many ‘sari-sari store owners complained to her about the confiscation of cigarettes, but the tobacco ban continued in order for it to become successful.
“At first, implementing the ordinance was very hard. Many sari-sari store owners told me that their cigarettes were confiscated, and were destroyed. But if we will not do such, we are tolerating tobacco in the city. The drive to be tobacco-free will be useless,” Abalos said in Filipino.
The city’s Smoke-Free Task Force (SFTF), together with the MMDA, has been monitoring the selling of tobacco products in public establishments, especially near school premises.
In 2018, a total of 6,283 smokers were apprehended in public places while 292 store owners were arrested for selling cigarettes near schools.