Smoke-free fiesta?

Ian Alfredo Magno

AS the city fiesta of Cagayan de Oro is fast-approaching, the sight of the traditional carnival, promotional stunts, fiesta sale, trade and food fairs have yet again blossomed in certain spots here and there. All these indicate, as experience dictates, that the volume of people traffic in and around the city premises is expected to rise as the fiesta proper nears the calendar.

This has since been the way things have gone, for the past decade or so.  Interestingly, however, one brand new thing might just have quite an impact to the city fiesta this year.  That is the rolled out implementation of Executive Order No. 26, which strictly implements the nationwide smoking ban in public areas.

It seems clear to the public that this national policy is a brain-child of the present administration. I could recall some personalities expressed their piece vis-à-vis Duterte’s no-smoking policy in public places at Davao. A few weeks after Duterte won the presidential bid, others opined that his no-smoking policy could not be replicated on a nationwide scale. Accordingly, that is simply impracticable.

Nonetheless, with EO 26 in full swing, perhaps those naysayers sort of see things differently by now.

It is therefore worth reiterating the specifics stated in Executive Order No. 26.  Section 3 thereof speaks of certain guidelines, thus:

• Smoking is prohibited in public places, whether stationery or in motion.
• Public places include public vehicles such as jeepneys, tricycles, and trisikads.
• Smoking is allowed only in Designated Smoking Areas (DSA).
• Only one DSA is allowed per establishment, which must have the following signages:
• “Smoking area” signage
• Graphic health warnings on the effects of tobacco
• “Prohibited entry” for persons below 18 years of age
• Places where no DSAs are allowed: schools, hospitals, elevators, stairwells, food preparation areas, gas stations, and other hazardous locations
• Selling of tobacco products to minors is prohibited
• Selling of tobacco products within a 100-meter radius from schools is prohibited
• Posting of tobacco promotional materials within a 100-meter radius from schools is prohibited

This information may prove useful especially to those who do not yet have an inkling that such an Executive Order is already in effect. The bottom-line, however, is that it is up to the concerned local government unit to calibrate its seriousness in executing the no-smoking policy, at least in public places and public conveyances.

Happy smoke-free city fiesta!

(Ian Alfredo T. Magno is a practicing lawyer and a legal officer at Philhealth. E-mail: ianalfredom@gmail.com)