The San Juan City local government on Thursday, Aug. 24, announced the declaration by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) of three of its public parks as smoke-free areas as part of its efforts in promoting public health and ensuring clean and breathable spaces for all in Metro Manila.
(Photo by Manila Bulletin)
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Ret. P/Col. Procopio Lipana spearheaded the event at the San Juan City Hall together with other city government officials.
The three public parks are the Pinaglabanan Shrine, San Juan City Mini Park, and El Polvorin Linear Park.
"In line with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9211 (Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003), Executive Order No. 26, Series of 2017 (Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-Free Environments in Public and Enclosed Spaces), and City Ordinance No. 5, Series of 2017 (Comprehensive Smoke Free Ordinance of the City of San Juan Metro Manila), the MMDA officially designates the Pinaglabanan Shrine, the Mini Park, and the El Polvorin Linear Park in San Juan City as smoke-free areas," Zamora said.
“We welcome this move of the MMDA to support our initiatives to have all our parks smoke-free. This is very important because our parks are often visited by people of all ages especially children and we certainly want them to be in a healthy environment" he added.
As part of the program, Zamora and Chairman Lipana signed a commitment board to symbolize their respective institution’s commitment to have all parks and public spaces in San Juan City and in Metro Manila smoke-free.
(Photo by Manila Bulletin)
"Syempre bilang pangulo po ng Metro Manila Council (MMC), hinihikayat ko po lahat ng kasama kong mayors ng Metro Manila, at ganun din syempre yung ibang mayors sa buong Pilipinas, na magpasa ng mga ordinansa patungkol po sa paninigarilyo (As part of my mandate as the president of the Metro Manila Council, I encourage all my fellow Metro Manila mayors as well as other mayors throughout the country to pass ordinances regarding smoking)," the mayor stressed.
"Alam naman ng bawat isa na masama ang paninigarilyo sa ating pangangatawan at dapat ay panatilihin nating malakas at malusog ang katawan ng ating mga mamamayan (We all know that smoking is bad for the body, hence, we must ensure that all our constituents maintain a strong and healthy body)," he explained
Zamora said the city government also opened several designated smoking areas for those who can't quit smoking. It also passed an ordinance on cigarette selling areas in San Juan.
The City Health Offices and the City Engineer’s Office were earlier tasked to inspect and certify the appropriateness of the designated smoking areas provided by accommodation establishments, whether tourism-accredited or not, taking into consideration the purpose of the law which is to protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.