Makati City declares Monday smoke-free day

Makati City will mark National Clean Air Month on Monday by declaring it a "Smoke-Free Day," both from smokers and smoke "belchers." Starting 7 a.m. Monday, the city government's health and environmental services will hold a "Tigil Buga para sa Kalusugan (Stop smoking for health)" activity. The activity at A.P. Reyes St. in Carmona village aims to highlight Makati’s commitment to the attainment of a “Smoke-free Makati" in the 21st century, the city government said on its web portal. Also at 7 a.m., the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will conduct anti-smoking and anti-smoke belching operations in strategic areas along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in support of the initiative. "Both Makati and MMDA are active partners of the University of the Philippines College of Law Development Foundation in its project 'Greater Teeth and Tools: Enforcement and Implementation of the Tobacco Regulation Act' under the global anti-smoking advocacy of US-based Bloomberg," the city government noted. Makati Health Department officer-in-charge Dr. Estela Barrios said deputized enforcers will be deployed in the area to apprehend drivers and passengers of public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and taxis who smoke. Environmental services unit officer-in-charge Lydia Donato added her office will conduct its Bantay Tambutso (BanTam) operations in the area. Vehicles will be subjected to free emission testing to determine their compliance with R.A. 8749, The Clean Air Act. Barrios said members of the Makati Anti-Smoking Task Force and barangay health workers, accompanied by city mascots Palpy and Halley, will also distribute information materials on City Ordinance 2002-090 and R.A. 9211, The Tobacco Regulation Act, and on the ill effects of cigarette smoking on public health. "Smokers will be advised to quit smoking and seek counseling at the barangay health centers, while the transport sector will be encouraged to regularly subject vehicles to prevent maintenance in order to meet the air quality standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources," the city government said. Five villages – Carmona, Olympia, Tejeros, Sta. Cruz, and Kasilawan – will hold parallel activities like holding lectures, programs and parades to promote awareness on the ill effects of smoking, including second- and third-hand smoke, in the community. For the first six months of the year, 2,512 vehicles were apprehended for smoke-belching in the city’s thoroughfares. Of these, 1,003 failed the emission test. Last November 4, Makati joined forces with MMDA and the Department of Health in kick-starting the Clean Air Month celebration with a public information drive on anti-smoking laws and the deadly effects of smoking. They simultaneously held enforcement operations at the MRT-Ayala Station. The joint operations resulted in a number of violators apprehended, as well as the clearing of an illegal sidewalk vendor selling cigarettes and confiscation of cigarette products being sold without permit from a food kiosk operating in the area. — LBG, GMA News