SMOKING BAN IMPLEMENTING RULES OUT BY JULY–DOH

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Executive Order (EO) No. 26 imposing a ban on smoking in public nationwide might come out before President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“We’re hoping that the IRR will come out before the 60 days that is outlined in the executive order for full implementation. So hopefully it will be out by July 16 or before Sona,” Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said during Tuesday’s press conference on the observance of the World No Tobacco Day 2017.

Ubial, however, said that local government units (LGUs) need not wait for the IRR, saying they could already come out with their respective tobacco control ordinances.

“Actually, there are LGUs which have ordinances that are stricter than the EO, that can continue. What we will look into are the LGUswithout existing ordinances in terms of implementation because the EO will now cover all the executive branches of government, so that includes the LGUs who have not passed their local ordinances,” she said.

The DOH chief added that LGUs could easily refer to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) as a basis for their ordinances.

“The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is an international treaty that we signed. That can be the reference point of local ordinances, which the Philippines ratified. That’s the legal basis of other local government units to actually implement a stricter ordinance,” Ubial said.

On May 16, President Duterte signed EO No. 26, which imposes a nationwide smoking ban in public places.

Under the EO, smoking will be banned in all public places including schools; work places; government facilities; establishments that provide food and drinks, accommodations and professional services; outdoor spaces like playgrounds, sport centers, church grounds, hospitals, transportation terminals, markets, parks, resorts, waiting areas, walkways and sidewalks; elevators and stairwells; locations where fire hazards present; and public transportation.