Use tech to keep minors away from tobacco-related sales

MANILA, Philippines — National Capital Region (NCR) mayors were urged to use a geographical information system (GIS) to ensure tobacco-related businesses were not situated near places where minors commonly are.

This stems from a resolution approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the governing and policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) composed of the region’s 17 mayors.

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In a statement on Tuesday, the MMDA explained, “This move… is to ensure that point-of-sale establishments selling tobacco and electronic smoking products are not situated within schools, public playgrounds, or other facilities frequented by minors.”

READ: Vaping not a safer alternative to cigarette smoking, says health advocate

A GIS is a type of technology with which local government units (LGUs) can verify whether locations applying for or renewing their business permits are compliant with existing laws and ordinances.

MMDA Chairperson Don Artes noted in the statement that the measure was in support of the Smoke-Free Project.

“Ordinances to be enacted by the LGUs must include provisions prohibiting ambulant or mobile vendors of cigarettes and electronic smoking products, as these vendors are capable of circumventing laws prohibiting the sale of such products within prohibited areas,” Artes said.

The Tobacco Regulation Act and the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act prohibit the sale of those products within a 100-meter perimeter of schools, playgrounds, and other sites for the youth.

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