Davao tobacco fines to go to cancer patients

DAVAO CITY—As the world observed “World No Tobacco Day” on Sunday, the city government announced that it would donate at least P3.2 million from collections for violations of the local antismoking ordinance to help cancer patients, especially children.

“The government has already collected P3.2 million from your vice,” Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said in his Sunday television show “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” addressing himself to smokers caught violating the ordinance.

The P3.2 million was collected from violators caught between June 2013 to March 2015.

Duterte said that in 2014 alone, a total of 4,613 violators were caught and fined by the local police force.

“I will use this money for cancer patients, most especially children,” Duterte said.

The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) here, even with limited resources, is serving the needs of thousands of cancer patients from all over Mindanao.

Duterte said the local government unit is continuing its campaign to curb tobacco use in the city because of its health and environmental risks.

“Ten Filipinos die of tobacco-related diseases every hour,” Duterte said.

The antismoking ordinance took effect 13 years ago and is still being strictly enforced by city authorities. Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao