Duterte imposes nationwide smoking ban in Philippines

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an order imposing a nationwide smoking ban for public places, a senior aide said Thursday.

The executive order, signed by Duterte on May 16, declared all public places throughout the country as off limits to smoking, whether indoor or outdoor, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

The order includes playgrounds, sporting areas, sidewalks, schools,workplaces, government offices, restaurants and other businesses.

Also covered are public conveyances such as elevators, planes, ships, buses, taxicabs, trains, tricycles and other similar vehicles, according to Medialdea.

The order, which strictly implements a 2003 Tobacco Regulation Act, allows for the creation of designated smoking areas but also imposes rigid criteria for these locations.

“There shall be no opening that will allow air to escape from the designated smoking areas to the smoke-free area of the building or conveyance, except for a single door equipped with an automatic door closer,” the order said.

“The designated smoking area shall not be located within 10 metres from entrances, exits or any place where people pass or congregate or in front of air intake ducts,” it added.

Duterte, who used to be a heavy smoker, kicked the habit decades ago after he developed health problems.

He had been talking about imposing a strict nationwide ban on smoking in public places since March, similar to the southern City of Davao, where he served as mayor for decades.

Davao has been implementing a smoking ban in public places, and only allows people to light up in their homes, parking lots and designated areas usually away from the public.

The order, which takes effect 60 days after it is published in a general circular, imposes penalties of up to 10,000 pesos ($200) for individuals and up to 200,000 pesos for establishments. — dpa