Vapers, smokers, shops—panagutin ng LGUs
Noong unang ipinatupad ang mga patakaran sa smoke-free, ramdam ang higpit. Guards confronted violators, establishments enforced the rules, at mas maingat ang publiko. Ngayon, parang lumambot ang pagpapatupad. Pinakamalinaw ito sa vaping, na ginagawa na sa mga mall, restaurant, at coffee shop.
Malinaw ang batas: vaping is prohibited in indoor public places except in designated vaping areas, while smoking in enclosed public places is prohibited outside designated smoking areas. Hindi dahil maliit ang device o mabilis mawala ang vapor ay puwede nang gamitin kahit saan.
May personal akong nasaksihan sa isang branch ng Starbucks. Ilang ulit ang smoking at vaping sa premises kaya tinawag ko ang pansin ng management at nag-file ng complaint sa headquarters. Ang sagot ng guard: “Ang tigas ng ulo nila, ayaw sumunod.”
Pero hindi puwedeng doon matapos ang responsibilidad. Kapag paulit-ulit ang violation, hindi sapat ang “pinagsabihan na namin.” Hindi puwedeng gawing excuse na pasaway ang customer. Management and security must enforce the rules, escalate repeated violations, and protect other customers.
Attention, Noey Tantoco Lopez: the complaint filed with your office deserves serious review. Hindi ito simpleng customer complaint. It raises a public-interest question: what happens when an establishment knows prohibited smoking or vaping is happening, yet the violations continue?
May obligasyon ding kumilos ang mga LGU. Citizens can report violations to local health offices, smoke-free task forces, business regulators, and authorized offices. Ang signage ay walang saysay kung walang pagpapatupad. Establishments that knowingly tolerate violations should not be treated as innocent bystanders.
Sa smokers at vape users: be sensitive. Hanapin ang designated area. Under RA 11900, prohibited vaping carries escalating penalties: P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second, and P20,000 for the third. Hindi optional ang pagsunod.
Kung may batas, dapat may enforcement. Vapers at mga smoker sa mga establishment na paulit-ulit na lumalabag o nagpapabaya—panagutin ng LGUs. Hindi sapat ang warning kung walang follow-through. Dahil kapag palaging pinalalampas ang violation, ang mensahe ay simple at delikado: may batas, pero puwedeng balewalain.
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