Smoking ban draws mix reviews

By LOUI MALIZA,
Stringer

THE REPORT that President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign an executive order banning smoking in public places across the country and is expected to be implemented next month has been met with mixed reactions here –– especially locals who do not plan to quit smoking in public.

Reactions to the expected nationwide ban on smoking in public places here has been varied.

For Nilo Castañares, assistant regional director of the Department of Interior and Local Governmentin northern Mindanao, he is more interested on how the word “public places” would be defined.

“There should be specifics what public places are considered prohibited for smoking. It (public places) should be clearly defined,” said Castañares.

He added they are still waiting for the proper guidelines on the order before it can be implemented.

Roel, 52, a smoker for about 30 years, said the smoker should be the last to be banned. He pointed out that Duterte should ban the planting of tobacco and manufacturing of cigarettes first before signing what he called the “harshest anti-smoking law” in the country so far.

“Unahon gyud niya tong nagtanom ug naghimo sa sigarilyo ayha dayon ta niya bawalan,” Roel, a resident of Barangay 19, one of the city’s densely populated villages, said.

As for Reymart Leo Caler, 32, who is used to smoke while on board an economy bus, a vehicle considered public, reasoned that smoking on board a bus eases up his nerves while traveling.

“I have been travelling places in Mindanao with cigarettes on my pocket, lighting them while waiting to reach my destination. Daghan man pud gasigarilyo sa bus. So, magtulo man akong laway, naanad na hinuon ko nga manigarilyo sa bus,” said Caler.

He said he knows the existing law on smoking inside the public utility vehicles, “but I can’t help myself whenever I see people smoke.”

For Mio Su, a store owner on Capistrano Street in Barangay 19, said he is more worried about how this ban would affect his store’s income once the order takes effect.

“Gawas sa softdrinks ug (intoxicating liquor), isa sa pinaka-halinon gyud nako ang sigarilyo. Gawas nga barato ko mamaligya, daghan gyud dire manigarilyohay,” Su said.

Su pointed out that his daily average income from selling cigarettes is at least P1,000. This income, he said, has made it possible for him to send his college student to school.

However, a barangay official, who refused to be named being a smoker himself, said he will support the call of the President to ban smoking in public places.

“Because it is so untidy seeing those people smoking and then throwing cigarette butts everywhere. Dili baya mapugngan sa tawo nga maglabay bisan asa sa upos kay…alang-alang man ug ilang kaunon ang upos o kaha isulod sa bulsa,” the village official said.

The official, added, he would ask his colleagues in the barangay to draft a a resolution to support the ban public smoking and to pass this as a barangay ordinance.

“So, once (smokers) violated the ordinance we’ll (barangay) earn from the penalties,” the barangay official said.

The Department of Health 10 here has expressed their support on the proposed order and has urged Duterte to push through with it.