Free teeth cleaning seen for momma users
MOMMA debates continue to curb the problem of irresponsible spitting.
Public consultations will be in order for the new law proposing to ban chewing of betel nut in public places.
Backing the new measure, Councilor Benny Bomogao said the new law should include free teeth cleaning at the City Health Office to deter those in the practice of chewing betel nut.
Bomogao said the teeth cleaning project should be a program of the city to help stop the habit of chewing momma by providing health services.
“Betel nut has been spitted in anywhere in the corridors, bus and jeepney, terminal stations, in the sidewalks, parks, in the walk way, even in the overpasses where momma seen everywhere. That’s why it must regulate by prohibiting chewing of momma in public places because when chewing momma the second thing to do is to spit but those momma users must be require to have spitting receptacles,” Bomogao added.
The measure introduced by Vice Mayor Edison Bilog is seen to improve health and sanitation of chewers and the city streets.
“Chewing betel nut has been a part of the indigenous groups unfortunately, it was been abused because they had been spitted it to the public. It must regulate because if not, the continuous chewing of betel nut in the public will also fall into spitting it at any area in the Baguio City,” Bilog said.
City Health Officer Rowena Galpo wrote a letter last month commenting on the new ordinance saying there should be a balance between prohibiting betel nut chewing because it is a form of socialization among the indigenous people.
Galpo suggested a series of consultation with the different indigenous people groups be done as Baguio City has different culture and has to be inclusive to accommodate different practices.
Momma is the mixture of betel nut,
gawwed (betel leaf paper), lime and tobacco which is usually chewed and spit out.
A spittoon, a receptacle to keep spittle, is recommended to be used by the momma chewing public to keep their spit, contained.
Bilog in his proposed law said despite the existence of laws on spitting and the mandate for momma users to use a spittoon, marks of betel liquid is evident in public places and even containers with betel liquid which were not disposed of properly most especially in the Central Business District including parks, public utility vehicles and terminals.
“Chewing will not be prohibited but spitting in the public will be regulated. This will be a regulation to stop spitting momma in public places in order to maintain cleanliness in all areas in the City of Baguio,” Bilog quips.
Bilog added the provision of designated areas for momma users just like smoking areas may be set in place with the new law when public consultations start.