Nationwide Smoking Ban to take effect on July 22
The Department of Health (DOH) has put out a general reminder to all: President Duterte’s nationwide smoking ban will take effect on July 22.
ONE WEEK. That’s how much time is left for people to do this in public places and enclosed spaces.
The announcement was made on Thursday, July 13, with DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag first saying it was going to take effect tomorrow, July 15. He would later clarify that Executive Order (E.O.) No. 26 will take effect on July 22, with or without an IRR.
Also read: EO on nationwide smoking ban signed by Duterte
“Nang chineck namin ito, na-publish sa Manila Bulletin noong May 23. Pag nagka-ganoon, sa isang Sabado pa ii-implement, pero pwede na silang mag-practice,” he said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s morning show Umagang Kay Ganda.
[When we checked, it was first published on May 23 by the Manila Bulletin. This means it will take effect on Saturday, July 22, but they can already put it in practice.]
A CAMPAIGN PROMISE FULFILLED. One of Duterte’s campaign promises was to implement a nationwide ban on smoking./IMAGE PCOO
E.O. No. 26 was signed by the President last May 16, 2017, which effectively bans smoking in all public places nationwide. Fines for EO 26 will be based on Republic Act No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.
Designated smoking areas (DSAs), or what we normally refer to simply as smoking areas, will have standards set by the E.O., like having a certain size allocated and a non-smoking buffer zone to prevent non-smokers from inhaling second-hand smoke.
The DOH will release a set of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) along with other relevant agencies sometime after the E.O. takes effect. The IRR from the health department, however, might not be the same as other agencies.
Vapes are not included in the nationwide smoking ban.
Source: CNN Philippines, Manila Times, ABS-CBN News
Image source: Presidential Communications Operations Office
