Pasig to phase out smoking areas by 2014

MANILA, Philippines - In a bid to strengthen its campaign against smoking, the local government of Pasig City wants to remove smoking areas from public and private establishments.

Racquel Naciongayo, head of the city’s Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), said the amended ordinance authored by Councilor Alexee Santiago will be implemented in 2014.

Naciongayo pointed out that businessmen were given two years to remove smoking areas in beerhouses, nightclubs, restaurants, shopping malls and private and public establishments.

She noted that the city government is spending P15 million yearly to send residents who are smokers to hospitals and this is much higher than the P5-million in taxes the city government is collecting from cigarette manufacturers.

Meanwhile, the CENRO chief called on law enforcers to arrest smokers puffing away in areas banned under Republic Act 9211, the anti-smoking law.