DOH readies

nationwide smoking
ban
By: Julie M. Aurelio - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:30 AM July 15, 2017

A man blows cigarette smoke at Ortigas-Edsa underpass Quezon City

as President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order
implementing a nationwide smoking ban. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO
JESUS ORBETA

The Department of Health (DOH) is preparing to enforce a nationwide

ban on smoking, inspired by the success of such a ban in Davao City
that started when President Duterte was still the citys mayor.

The nationwide smoking ban, according to Dr. Enrique Tayag, would

be enforced starting on July 23.

Those who cannot comply with the requirements of the smoking ban
might end up as an example of an offender, said Tayag,
spokesperson for the DOH, also the lead implementing agency of the
ban as mandated by Executive Order (EO) No. 26.
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Tayag said the public and establishments must heed the Presidents
executive order or face penalties.

EO 26 mandated the designation of smoke-free public and enclosed

areas nationwide.
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It was supposed to take effect 60 days after May 24, when it was
supposed to have been published in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Mr. Dutertes EO listed areas where smoking would be prohibited.

These include schools and recreational facilities for minors, elevators
and stairwells, areas with fire hazards, hospitals and clinics, and
kitchens and other areas for food preparation.

Establishments, like restaurants and bars, should heed the EOs

provisions to avoid being penalized, Tayag said.

The EO requires establishments to put up No Smoking signs that

measure at least 8 by 11 inches (20.3 by 27.9 cm), with a No
Smoking symbol occupying at least 60 percent of the sign.

Tayag also suggested that establishments should display signs that

said Designated Smoking Area with graphic warnings on smokings
harmful effects on health.

The EO said areas where smoking was allowed should be open or

rooms with adequate ventilation and separated from other rooms.
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There should also be a buffer zone in designated smoking areas,

Tayag said.

Tayag also said the EO could be implemented without implementing

rules and regulations, or IRR, that are normally required for the
enforcement of new laws.

An IRR is not necessary in implementing the smoking ban, Tayag

said.

However, we still hope to come up with it in order to clarify some

provisions of the EO, he added.
Health and antismoking advocates have been lobbying the President
to duplicate nationwide the successful smoking ban that he so
zealously enforced in Davao City as mayor, that an unverified report
spread about him punishing a violator by making the smoker swallow
his cigarette.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/914086/doh-readies-

nationwide-smoking-ban#ixzz4mrN6yEmj
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