ILOILO City – The city government is bringing its anti-smoking drive to schools.
“Kay na-alarma kita sang pagduging sang paggamit sang mga kabataan sang electronic cigarette or vape,” said Iñigo Garingalao, head of the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST).
There will be, among others, school forums for students, parents-teachers associations, barangay officials, and district police offices.
From Jan. 1 to May 19, ICAST personnel were able to apprehend 4,309 persons for violating the city’s anti-smoking/vaping ordinance. They were also able to collect P351,150 as fines.
The data, however, does not include yet vapers, said Garingalao.
In 2022, 11,218 individuals were apprehended for smoking in public places.
Under the Anti-Smoking/Vaping Ordinance, those caught smoking in public places will face a monetary penalty of P1,500 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense; and P5,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.
Garingalao said many youngsters were lured to use vapes through aggressive online promotion.
“Ginpagwaan nila damo nga flavors. Indi ko ka intindi ngaa ang FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ta kag DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) wala gintapna kay bawal na actually nga damo-damo flavors. Ang aton di ya sa syudad ang mahimu ta is to regulate,” said Garingalao.
He said most of the users of vapes in the city are aged 15 to 28 years old.
“Gin-promote gid siya sa kabataan kag tungod nga daw class siya, nangin uso siya bala,” he added.
The ICAST chief further expressed his dismay that smokers don’t seem to care about the ill-effects of smoking to their health.
“Nagapadayun kita sang aton adbokasiya. Nangin sobra na ini sa 10 ka tuig because we understand nga ini siya nga klase ka addiction sa nicotine, generation by generation ini siya. Naga-challenge kita sa inyo nga look into your future. Kag sa mga ginikanan, be a model. May impact gid na ya sa future sang inyo kabataan. Bantog kita nga mga Ilonggo nga mapinalanggaon kag nami magbantay sang puturo sang aton kabataan, dapat i-apply ta man na sa ‘no vaping, no smoking’ naton,” he added.
Meanwhile, in line with the celebration of the World No Tobacco Day on May 31, ICAST was supposed to have a program in partnership with Ramon Avanceña National High School and Girl Scouts of Iloilo City but this was postponed due to the inclement weather.
Garingalao said they will move the program this week./PN
