Smokers’ world is smaller today

The world of smokers would become smaller starting on Sunday.

A ranking health official said as his department starts enforcing President Duterte’s nationwide ban on smoking, establishments should be reminded of their duty to designate smoking areas and display No Smoking signs.

Executive Order No. 26 seeks to replicate on a larger scale a successful ban on smoking in Davao City started by Mr. Duterte when he was still the city’s mayor.

But Enrique Tayag, Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson, said he understood that it was nearly impossible for all establishments to have designated smoking areas by the time of the EO’s enforcement starting on Sunday.

“We see that it is almost impossible for every establishment to have conformed by now,” said Tayag.

“What they should do is put up signs warning smokers that they can’t smoke there,” he said.

On Friday, DOH officials made the rounds of schools, hospitals, malls and other public places to conduct an information campaign on the nationwide smoking ban.

Coverage of ban

The smoking ban applies to schools and other areas where youths gather, elevators and stairwells, areas with fire hazards, hospitals and clinics and areas used for food preparation.

Areas in establishments where smoking may be allowed should be open spaces or separated with sufficient ventilation.

Tayag said it was important for smokers to be reminded of one thing — they can’t take a puff anywhere they please.

“Others interpret it to mean that they only need a designated smoking area,” said Tayag.

“But what establishments should comply with first is to put up signs saying  ‘No Smoking’ in all public places and conveyances,” the DOH spokesperson said.

He defined public places as not just those owned by the government but even those in privately-owned buildings and workplaces.