Is Taguig exempted from anti-smoking law?

In 2003, I started writing a series of articles on anti-smoking and as a result was asked to join a group that continues to fight against smoking in public places. (We encourage restaurant and bar owners to set up separate smoking areas in their establishments.)

Our head is Aurora Pijuan, former Miss International and mother of TJ Manotoc, and one of the most active members of this group is Maribel Cantada, whose husband, the great sports commentator Joe, died of lung cancer years ago.

Unfortunately, since most of the members of this anti-smoking group work on weekdays, the meetings were set Saturday afternoons, which is when Startalk goes on the air. After a while, I lost touch with them, but went on writing about the dangers of smoking and how non-smokers should be protected against second-hand smoke (which as we all know is deadlier).

The only time I took a break from my anti-smoking articles was when I noticed that all the malls – Shangri-La, Robinsons and all the SM stores – banned smoking within their respective establishments. (Glorietta, Landmark, etc. enforced the no-smoking ordinance earlier because feisty Makati Mayor Jojo Binay saw to it that non-smokers are protected within his jurisdiction.)

I remember sometime in 2001 to 2002, I would still argue with Saisaki management in Megamall because they favored the smokers by giving them better tables – with the view and privacy.

But in time, the entire Megamall was declared smoke-free and all I had to do was call the attention of security whenever I saw shoppers puffing a stick or two inside the mall – particularly in the stairwells where smokers normally converge.

For a while there, I thought I could finally breathe easily (and I’m saying that literally) and was on to my next project: Run after smoke-belching buses and other public utility vehicles.

Last Tuesday, however, I wanted to show a visiting cousin from L.A. this progressive community that is The Fort. When it was time for dinner, I brought him to Pier One because it offers native food that is delicious and affordable (and the service there is basically good).

I’ve been to Pier One in The Fort a couple of times before. The first time, they put me in a no-smoking room and I was happy with the food and the service. The second time, I was told that the no-smoking area was full and was put in the covered patio. I was happy – until the people in the next table began to smoke. I consumed what was left on my plate and left hurriedly.

On this third visit last Tuesday, I was finally able to study the place. The no-smoking room was very small and could accommodate only very few tables. The smoking room, however, was huge – more than double the size of the non-smoking area. Outside were the up and down patios – the free-for-all areas. It’s the place where customers are allowed to do whatever they want with their lungs. But the poor non-smoker has to pray to St. Joseph for a happy death when given a table there.

Pier One actually violates Republic Act 9211 (it’s all about anti-smoking), which had been signed into law on June 23, 2003, because the smoking area of a bar or restaurant should not be more than one-third the size of the entire establishment. Why Taguig allows this doesn’t surprise me anymore.

Some two years ago, I also went to Prince of Jaipur in the same vicinity. When I asked the manager why they didn’t have a designated area for smokers, he only thumbed his nose up at me and said that "This is Taguig – not Makati!"

I told him I knew that was Taguig and that he was ignorant – of the law, that is. This is the main problem in the implementation of this anti-smoking law. Everyone else thinks that the no-smoking law is enforced only in Makati. No, my friends – it is supposed to be enforced nationwide.

I don’t know why this law is still being violated in Taguig and I implore its good Mayor, Freddie Tinga, to act on this matter. In this paper’s Father‘s Day issue last June, he was featured in a pictorial with his three good-looking kids. If he can’t enforce this law within his territory for the sake of non-Taguig residents (like me, for instance) who only visit The Fort to do business there, maybe he can do that for his children so that they may be part of a smoke-free Philippines with cleaner air to breathe.

To be honest about it, I really shouldn’t be meddling in this anti-smoking business anymore because I am an old man and a few years from now, illnesses brought in by natural causes should already be catching up with me.

But there is a majority of people who suffer from second-hand smoke and their health should be protected against the vice of these smokers who simply don’t care about others. Everyone should be warned against smoking – the dangers of it – and this is what our group is doing at the moment.

Our involvement with this group actually brings dangers to our lives because there were some who are faced with death threats in the past for fighting the tobacco industry.

Last Tuesday, a companion told me that Pier One in The Fort is owned by a military man. Now, he wasn’t sure with his facts – he could be wrong. But I don’t care if it is owned by a military man, an NPA hitman or a member of the Alex Boncayao brigade. I just want the people in this country to be able to breathe clean air – even if in the process – I’d be getting in the way of big businesses. I know I’m an easy target because I’m quite visible on TV and my enemies know where to get me.

But I’d rather die quickly from a bullet (please give me a good aim) than face a slow and agonizing death brought about by lung cancer that came as a result of the second-hand smoke from inconsiderate smokers and even the inaction of some public officials who don’t care about the general health of the people.