7-Eleven Stores given until January to stop selling cigarettes in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The city government has given the Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC) until the end of this month to clear 7-Eleven stores here of cigarettes or face closure under the city’s anti-smoking ordinance.

Dr. Domelyn Villareiz of the Anti-Smoking Task Force said the city government has already informed PSC that its stores here have been found violating the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance, which was passed by the City Council in 2002. The ordinance was made stiffer with more prohibitions and amendments passed in 2012.

7-Eleven stores have been given until this month to correct the violation or else, their permit would be revoked, she said.

In November, City Administrator Melchor Quitain warned PSC that the city government would not think twice about revoking its permit if its stores continue to sell cigarettes.

“You are hereby enjoined to cease and refrain from selling cigarettes in your establishments,” Quitain said in a letter sent to PSC on November 23.

All establishments falling under the “accommodation and entertainment” category, such as the 7-Eleven stores that have been offering refreshment and fastfood to clients, have been prohibited from selling cigarettes as prescribed by Section 3 of the city’s anti-smoking law, Quitain said.

Villareiz said if the PSC wanted to continue selling cigarettes in its stores, except those near schools, it should shut down its refreshment parlors.

But it could not retain that feature and at the same time sell cigarettes, she added.

PSC opened its first store at Abreeza Mall here in May last year.

It has since opened several other stores, including one near Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Elementary School on Ponciano Reyes St. here.

PSC President Jose Victor Paterno said the company would open a total of 30 stores in the city as part of its Mindanao expansion plan.  SFM