DAVAO CITY—The number of apprehended smoking violators in this city has ballooned to just under 6,500 from April 12 to May 20 this year, Anti-Smoking Task Group action man Voltaire Engracia said.
The big number of arrests, Engracia said, can be attributed to the efforts of the task group and the Davao City Police Office, which provided the data.
He said it is a clear pronouncement to every Davaoeño that the city government is serious in enforcing the laws of the city.
“The police have apprehended a total of 6,483 anti-smoking ordinance violators. Although I do not have the breakdown with me, most of the violators are from Davao City, and only 10 were identified as tourists,” Engracia said.
He said that though it is obvious the city is serious with its campaign against smoking, there are still many Davaoeños who violate it.
To drive home the point, Engracia has gathered officials from the barangays to create their own teams who will enforce the anti-smoking ordinance in the 182 barangays of the city.
Engracia said this will help the city apprehend violators at the barangay level.
“We are now starting to organize the barangay enforcers. I have been talking with the barangay officials to let them create a team of their own that will watch over those violators,” he said.
Engracia also reminded the public the law covers not only tobacco-based cigarettes but also electronic cigarettes.
On May 31, the Anti-Smoking ordinance will mark its 15th anniversary, the same date as World Tobacco Day. The Anti-Smoking Task Group has organized a fun walk on that day that Davaoeños can attend for free.
“We are one with the United Nations on their call that on May 31. We are hoping the city will be entirely smoke-free. I hope no one will smoke on that day, just for a day,” Engracia said.