BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod urged Mayor Alfredo Benitez to strictly enforce City Ordinance No. 641, series of 2013, or the anti-smoking regulation ordinance.
In a resolution, the city council noted the numerous individuals smoking in public spaces and conveyances in violation of the ordinance.
The city council also observed that some establishments were no longer compliant of
a requirement in the ordinance – having a designated smoking area.
According to Councilor Simple Distrito who authored the resolution, “non-compliant” cigarettes were also proliferating in the city, depriving the city government of potential revenues from excise tax.
This has the effect of flooding the market with cheaper cigarettes, thereby making them more accessible to the public, especially the youth, Distrito added.
The resolution asked the mayor to convene the Bacolod Anti-Smoking Task Force.
“The convening of the taskforce shall be necessary to aid in the implementation, enforcement, and monitoring of our existing smoking regulation policies,” read part of the resolution./PN
