DOH: Nationwide public smoking ban starts tomorrow

Starting tomorrow, Executive Order 26 or the nationwide ban on public smoking takes effect.

“It has already been set that 60 days after publication, EO 26 is implementable and that will be on Sunday, July 23. There will be no extension,” Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial announced.

Ubial said some 1.5 million Filipinos will be spared from developing tobacco-related ill- nesses in the next five years as the ban is expected to reinforce other anti-cigarette policies like sin taxes and the graphic health warning.

Ubial added the projection in the next five years is that smoking prevalence in the country would be reduced by eight percent or more or less 1.5 million Filipinos will “stop smoking or will not start smoking.”

The Department of Health yesterday conducted an information drive in the communities surrounding its central office in Tayuman, Manila. Mascots have gone around the area to show the ill effects of smoking.

Health spokesman Eric Tayag said the EO gave local government units the task of implementing the ban by creating their respective smoke-free task forces.

He said LGUs could accept volunteers to participate in the task forces to scale up the monitoring of compliance.

Covered by the ban are public and private transportation utilities, schools, government facilities, children activity centers, food establishments, street or walkway, waiting shed areas, markets, health care facilities, parking lots and transportation terminals, church grounds, markets and parks, among others.

Tayag added establishments should have a designated smoking area with proper ventilation.