The Pasay City government has issued a directive that strictly prohibits smoking within the City Hall building.
City Administrator Ernestina Carbajal said the order is based on City Ordinance 2782, which states that all government or public buildings are declared as absolutely smoke-free areas.
Carbajal said they were prompted to reiterate the implementation of the ordinance after a small fire occurred near the City Hall earlier.
Officials found that cigarette butts, which smokers left behind in an alley between the City Hall and the Hall of Justice, caused the fire.
“This would have been avoided if the ‘No Smoking’ policy had been strictly implemented,” Carbajal noted. She added that the general public has the right to a smoke-free environment and that this shall be ensured by a ban on smoking in public conveyances, in all public buildings and enclosed public places.
The directive is reportedly a reminder that the Pasay City Hall and the Hall of Justice are smoke-free areas.
“All concerned authorities are hereby directed to strictly implement this policy. Violators caught shall be dealt with accordingly,” the memorandum signed by Carbajal read. – Rhodina Villanueva