Palace, DOH ask Pinoys’ support for nationwide smoking ban

Malacañang and the Department of Health are calling on all Filipinos to help in the enforcement of the executive order on nationwide smoking ban that began taking effect on Sunday.

Presidential spokesperson Erenesto Abella said, "The implementation of EO 26 is a realization of our dream of a tobacco-free future. Together, let us give our full cooperation and support to the smoke-free establishments in public and enclosed places."

President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO 26 entitled “Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-free Environments in Public and Enclosed Places” on May 16.

“This Executive Order is another milestone where the government gives priority to the right to protect public health," Abella said. 

The ban covers all schools, universities and colleges, playgrounds, restaurants and food preparation areas, basketball courts, stairwells, health centers, clinics, public and private hospitals, hotels, malls, elevators, taxis, buses, public utility jeepneys, ships, tricycles, trains, airplanes, and fire-hazard places such as gas stations.

On the other hand, the Department of Health (DOH) is also encouraging local government units (LGUs) to work with the police in organizing their own "smoke-free task force" to implement the ban.

DOH spokesman Enrique Tayag reminded LGUs to be careful in choosing enforcement officials and make sure that fines collected from violators are turned over to the National Treasury.

Tayag pointed out that enforcement of the EO inside transportation facilities could be the Health department's biggest challenge.

On the first morning of the ban's enforcement, DzBB's news team spotted an unsuspecting driver light a cigarette in a Quezon City parking lot.

Moreover, the DOH noted that most establishments have failed to establish designated smoking areas, over two months since the EO was signed.

In the mean time, Tayag is asking establishments to put up "no smoking" signs in compliance with the  EO restrictions to give them leeway until they are able to set up "buffer zones" or open spaces separated from the public area to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke. —Margaret Claire Layug/LBG, GMA News