Cops step up no-smoking campaign in U-Belt

Seeking to protect the health of students there, police in Manila have stepped up their no-smoking campaign in the city’s University Belt. The Manila Police District said its personnel will "persuade" students not to smoke especially while in the University Belt, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. University Belt refers to the area where a number of colleges and universities are located in the following districts in Manila: Sampaloc, Quiapo, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa and San Miguel. MPD spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said they also want to prevent other students from taking up the smoking habit. He added the no-smoking campaign is an extension of sorts of the MPD’s no-smoking drive in its own headquarters and at Manila City Hall.

The dzBB report said the MPD had already posted “No Smoking" signs at the MPD headquarters and at City Hall. Earlier, the Department of Education bared plans to discourage students from getting the urge to smoke by discouraging the sale of cigarettes inside and around schools. Also, the DepEd said it will not allow the selling of cigarettes within 100 meters - about the length of three basketball courts - of the school premises. The DepEd’s move also aimed to prevent students, especially those in high school, from developing the smoking habit early. For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority launched this month a drive against smoking in public places. Under the MMDA’s program, smokers in public places face a fine of P500 or eight hours of community service. — RSJ, GMA News