Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Davao City Dads welcomes ASEAN Anti-Smoking confab delegates

DAVAO CITY, July 9 (PIA) The Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Dabaw welcomed the delegates from eight Association of Southeast Asian Nation  member countries who are in the country to study and compare best practices in smoke-free policies and to learn on the policy formulation and enforcement of the Anti-smoking Ordinance in Davao City.

Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte welcomed the delegation after they were introduced during the privilege hour by Councilor Melchor Quitain.

Bung-on Ritthiphakdee, director of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance said participants want to take the city’s anti-smoking policy as model for their respective countries.

She lauded the support of all sectors in the compliance of the anti-smoking law.

The Seatca awarded the city government for its strong enforcement and advocacy campaign against smoking in public places.

Councilor Bonifacio Militar, author of the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance enacted in 2002 bared that public health is the primordial concern in passing the ordinance.

He said he never thought that the local ordinance would impact on many countries in Southeast Asia.

Militar said the city is very serious in implementing the anti-smoking ordinance for the protection of all from the negative effects of secondary smoke.

“I hope that you will bring to your respective countries this policy which will surely impact in the protection of public health,” he said.

In May 31, the Anti-Smoking Task Force in Davao City launched the amended Anti-Smoking policy or City Ordinance No. 0367-12, Series of 2012, known as The New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance.

Dr. Domilyn Villareiz, chief of the ASTF said the new anti-smoking policy no longer allows smoking in enclosed public places, including public vehicles and sidewalks where smokers and non-smokers converge.

She said the new law rids the designated smoking areas within any establishment. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

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