Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of the executive order enforcing a nationwide smoking ban, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday tasked concerned city hall offices to ensure the prohibition on the smoking and sale of tobacco products in school zones is strictly enforced.
Estrada said he wants to prioritize the smoking ban in and around school premises and vicinities to protect schoolchildren from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
“Even before the nationwide smoking ban, we’ve been strict when it comes to smoking in public places such as schools, but with the President’s EO [Executive Order 26], we will be stricter, especially in school zones,” Estrada said.
He has tasked the Office of the City Administrator to come up with guidelines on how to ensure that the school grounds and its immediate vicinities are 100-percent smoke-free.
“We will not be lenient,” Estrada warned. “Violators will face the severest sanctions mandated by the law.”
Division of City Schools-Manila superintendent Dr. Wilfredo Cabral said they have been working closely with city hall in enforcing the smoking ban.
“We’ve come up with issuances in support of this anti-smoking regulation. What we have been doing is coordinate with concerned city hall agencies such as the health office and licensing, since we do not have jurisdiction over business establishments selling tobacco products,” Cabral said.
EO 26 prohibits the sale or distribution of tobacco products within 100 meters of a school, public playground, youth hostels and recreational facilities for minors, including those frequented by minors.
No Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs) are also allowed in “centers of youth activity” such as play schools, preparatory schools, elementary and high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels, and recreational facilities for minors.
“Schools are considered smoke-free zones so they really cannot smoke or sell cigarettes within the school premises,” Cabral said.
At least two school principals in Tondo have so far reported to city hall for appropriate action several establishments, stalls, and sidewalk and ambulant vendors selling tobacco products within their respective school vicinities, he added.
Cabral called on the public to cooperate with the city government’s efforts to protect the health of non-smokers and schoolchildren.
“Let’s give respect to our schools,” he said.