DOH expects LGUs to help enforce nationwide smoking ban

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday it expects local government units (LGUs) to implement President Duterte’s directive on the smoking restrictions starting Sunday, July 23.

“We are ready to explore that idea of really naming and shaming some of the LGUs that are not complying and also rewarding those that have fully implemented the 100-percent smokefree environments,” Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial saidin a Malacañang news Conference.

Ubial said the health department applied the same “name and shame” strategy to help reduce firecracker injuries in the country. She said the DOH identified the LGUs with the highest number of firecracker injuries

and asked them to carry out safety measures during the New Year’s Eve revelry and firecracker injuries were down by 30 percent.

The executive order that prohibits smoking in public places around the country, signed by President Duterte last May 16, will formally take effect on July 23. Ubial said the order can be enforced this weekend even though the implementing rules and regulations are still being crafted.

EO 26 calls for the establishment of smoke-free environment in public and enclosed spaces. It provides standards for designated smoking areas (DSA), which may either be an open space or a separate area with proper ventilation. Violators face fines or imprisonment, depending on the number of offenses.

Cities and municipalities are directed to form a local smoke-free task force to carry out the provisions of the President’s directive.

Ubial said: “We know that there might be some LGUs that will not comply with this but we are working doubly hard for the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the LGUs to eventually put this in full force.”

“There’s a lot of work to be done by the local government units so it depends on how they move forward in terms of the task force, in terms of the information education materials, and in terms of having private facilities also comply with designated smoking areas,” she added.

The government has no plans yet to enforce a total tobacco ban in the country, she said. “Wala pa po tayong pinag-uusapan na total ban on tobacco in this country, because we are known as a tobacco-producing country. So, marami pong maaapektuhan.”

But the health secretary said she is inclined to support a tobacco-free world as promoted by the World Health Organization and other health groups.