LTFRB: Report drivers who smoke in vehicles

In its hope to achieve a totally smoke-free environment, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 insists that commuters of public utility vehicles or those in transport terminals report to their office drivers caught smoking.

On the other hand, LTFRB-7 regional director Reynaldo Elnar said that drivers can also report passengers smoking inside PUV or passenger terminals.

“If the drivers see someone smoking, they can tell that person to stop because there is a law that protects the public from this bad practice in public places,” said Elnar.

“Drivers should also serve as good example to the passengers. They can be sanctioned and pay a penalty of P2,500 to P3,000 if reported. So we ask the commuters to report in our office so that these drivers will be disciplined,” he added.

Based on LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 36 of 2009, the public is urged not to smoke inside PUVs or terminals.

The memorandum, pursuant to RA No 9211, aims for a 100 percent smoke-free PUVs and transport terminals, requiring all stakeholders to observe a smoke ban in all public transport areas.

“The driver of the public utility vehicle shall be responsible for warning the passengers and co-workers who fail to comply with the smoking prohibition and for asking them to leave the public utility vehicle in such cases,” part of the memorandum reads.

Recently, the Department of Health expressed its support to the World Health Organization’s call for strict enforcement of policies that will reduce tobacco consumption.

Moneva Ligaya, DOH7 Health Education and Promotion Officer, said that aside from highlighting the health risks on smoking, she said they are also advocating for improved implementation of tobacco laws such as the Republic Act No. 9211.

RA 9211 is “An Act Regulating the Packaging, Use, Sale Distribution and Advertisements of Tobacco Products and for Other Purposes,” also known as the “Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.”

Ligaya said people can reprimand individuals who smoke in public vehicles or in terminals as she stressed that access to clean air is everyone’s right.

LTFRB-7 ensures that stakeholders remain compliant with the law by conducting inspections in public transport terminals twice a year and roadside inspections twice a week.

“We make a dialogue with the management of the transport terminals and schedule for a repeat inspection to determine if they followed already to our recommendations,” Elnar said.

LTFRB-7 also conducts workshops known as the “Driver’s Academy” to brief drivers of PUVs and buses on the memorandum and on the danger of smoking to the public’s health.