Davao Oriental changes ordinance to widen smoking ban coverage

Smokers would find a smaller place to indulge in their habit in Davao Oriental which had revised an ordinance to ban smoking in a larger area. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

DAVAO ORIENTAL — Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang had signed the revised Provincial Anti-Smoking Ordinance, imposing a smoking ban in all public places in the province.

The ordinance, which was first enacted in 2016, prohibits smoking in all public areas, including government facilities, public transport facilities, food establishments, hotels, schools, hospitals and workplaces.

Smoking is also banned in outdoor facilities like playgrounds, parks and markets among many other places.

The old ordinance banned smoking only in government offices.

Dayanghirang said the new ordinance was in support of the national government’s campaign to instill health consciousness among the public and was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 26.

For the ordinance to be fully executed, Implementing Rules and Regulations will be issued 60 days after the governor’s approval.

Board Member Laureano Taya, chair of the provincial board’s committee on health and sanitation and who authored the ordinance, said individuals and establishments found violating the ordinance would face fines or imprisonment.

For the first offense, violators would be fined P300. A second offense carries a penalty of P500 in fine while a third offense would be penalized with a P1,000 fine or imprisonment. —Frinston Lim