The Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) has apprehended and fined a total of 7,278 smokers and e-cigarette users who were caught smoking and “vaping” in public areas in the metro.
ICAST director Iñigo Garingalao, in a media interview on Sept. 11, 2023, said that the task force together with the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) apprehended 868 e-cigarette or “vape” users and 6,410 cigarette smokers from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15, 2023, noting that the violators this year are higher compared last year.
He noted that they were already expecting the increase in number of violators, including students, as the agency also ramped up their operations.
“Expected na abi nga may mga estudyante nga makaladakpan subong kay daw hindi gid ta kaintindi sa mga estudyante ta nga gastusan sila sang ila ginikanan, part sang ila budget, ti sigarilyo nila. So, expected gid na siya nga magtaas,” Garingalao said.
He cited the easing of health and safety protocols in the city, as well as the agency’s intensified monitoring and operations as some of the reasons for the increase in the apprehension of illegal smokers.
“[Ongoing] man dayon ang aton operations sa mga palibot sang smokers. Nakakasa man sa ICAST ang aton nga Kids Smoke-Free Storytelling Program, Forums for Schools, mga amu na nga hilimu-on and other things for awareness
like pagpanagtag sang posters,” he furthered.
Garingalao also debunked the idea that using e-cigarettes is safer than conventional cigarettes, as it is misleading and even propagates the habit of smoking among students.
He added that the anti-smoking campaign does not stop at apprehending smokers as it should need collaborative efforts among stakeholders, including the education and health sectors, as well as the parents of the students.
“Ang aton nga mga ginikanan should also be aware of this. Ang anti-smoking and anti-vaping needs holistic approach and collaboration as it is behavioral, cultural, addiction [health issues], so, this should be a community work,” Garingalao explained.
The Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Ordinance penalizes individuals caught smoking in prohibited places with P1,500 and/or three days imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the first offense; P2,000 and/or five days imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the second offense, and P5,000 and/or 10 days imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the third offense.
Establishments without designated smoking areas or allow smoking in non-designated areas, on the other hand, are fined P2,000 on the first offense, P3,000 for second offense, and P5,000 or cancellation of their business permit on the third offense. (PIA-6)
