Smoke-free Iloilo City sought

By Lydia C. Pendon

Friday, January 31, 2014

THE Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (Icast) is steadfast in implementing its mandate of not allowing
smoking in all public places including the non-operation of special smoking area in restaurants and bars.

“Definitely, we are making the city a smoke-free area and even tourists are not allowed to smoke here,”
city councilor and Icast Chairman Joshua Alim said.

The City Council has passed Regulation Ordinance 2013-348 last September 10, 2013 by amending
certain provisions of the “Ordinance providing for a comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance in the city of
Iloilo and for other purposes.”

The amended ordinance also provides prohibited acts by an individual and administrative violation.
These prohibited acts include smoking or using electronic devise system in schools compound, public
buildings, public conveyances and government owned vehicles, locations in which fire hazards are
present, within 100 meters of the surrounding premises of hospitals, medical, dental, optical clinics and
pharmacies, accommodation such as hotels, motels and the likes, restaurants, bars, disco houses and
other entertainment establishments, private workplace open to the general public, public places where
10 or more persons convened, waiting shed and any area owned by the government and declared by the
city mayor thru an executive order as a no smoking area or place.

Alim said the prohibited acts or administrative violations include no signage of No smoking in the
entrance and inside of the establishment, providing ash trays within the No smoking Area, designating
smoking area within the building, selling and allowing minors to smoke in their establishment, non-
declaration in the business Permit indicating that the establishment is a smoke-free establishment,
allowing smoking during events, selling cigarettes in front of schools within 100 meters, selling of
cigarettes within the 20-meter perimeter of recreational activities, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies
and laboratories, and NO Smoking signage on public utility vehicle.

Penalties were also added to violators from the old ordinance. The amended ordinance provides fine of
P500 and or 24 hours community work and or 3 days imprisonment at the discretion of the court for
first offense; a fine of P1,000 and or 48 hours community work and or 5 days imprisonment for the
second offense; and a fine of P5,000 and or 60 hours community work and or 10 days imprisonment.

Policemen are likewise not allowed to smoke in public and while on duty, Alim added.

The amended city ordinance also declared JM Basa Street and Iznart Street as “No Smoking Streets”, for
reason these streets are highly populated and considered as a heritage area and tourism destination.
Smoking totally banned
April 11, 2014 | Filed under: Latest News,News,Slider | Posted by: Reymar Latoza

Smoking Ban in Iloilo City

Business operators and smokers, beware: The Iloilo City Ant-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) is stringently
implementing the amended ordinance ordering a total ban on smoking in all establishments.

Under the amended ordinance, Regulation Ordinance No. 2006-150 or The Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance
of Iloilo City, establishments are prohibited to put up smoking areas for smokers.

Iloilo Councilor Joshua Alim, Chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Rules and Style said that establishment
owners and smokers should be aware of this new measure or they will face penalties.

Violators will be fined of the following: P1,500 (first offense), 2,500 (second offense) and P5,000 and one week
closure (third and succeeding offenses).

The amended ordinance also provides prohibited acts by an individual and administrative violation. These prohibited
acts include smoking or using electronic devise system in schools compound, public buildings, public conveyances
and government owned vehicles, locations in which fire hazards are present, within 100 meters of the surrounding
premises of hospitals, medical, dental, optical clinics and pharmacies, accommodation such as hotels, motels and the
likes, restaurants, bars, disco houses and other entertainment establishments, private workplace open to the general
public, public places where 10 or more persons convened, waiting shed and any area owned by the government and
declared by the city mayor thru an executive order as a no smoking area or place.

The violations include no signage of No smoking in the entrance and inside of the establishment, providing ash trays
within the No smoking Area, designating smoking area within the building, selling and allowing minors to smoke in
their establishment, non-declaration in the business Permit indicating that the establishment is a smoke-free
establishment, allowing smoking during events, selling cigarettes in front of schools within 100 meters, selling of
cigarettes within the 20-meter perimeter of recreational activities, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies and
laboratories, and NO Smoking signage on public utility vehicle.

JM Basa Street and Iznart Street were als odeclared as “No Smoking Streets. IMT