Violators of Makati smoking ban warned

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has warned establishments and individuals in the city that they face stiff penalties, including outright closure and fines, if they are caught violating City Ordinance No. 2002-090 or the Revised Anti-Smoking Ordinance.

"The city government seriously intends to enforce this ordinance, and we will not hesitate to close down and cancel the business permit of any establishment that stubbornly refuses to comply with its restrictions on smoking. I am also warning people who continue to defy it that they will be made to pay fines and face imprisonment on the third of offense," Binay said.

The said ordinance imposes a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P3,000 or imprisonment for three to six days, at the discretion of the court, for the third offense. Erring establishments are also subject to closure and cancelation of their business permits.

Binay issued the stern warning in the wake of a random inspection recently done by Makati police that found several bars and restaurants in various parts of the city violating the said ordinance by allowing patrons to smoke inside their establishments. But instead of imposing the penalties right away, the authorities verbally reprimanded the management of the erring establishments and the smokers for violating the local smoking ban, warning them to start complying with it, or else face sanctions.