THE municipality of Binalbagan in Negros Occidental is eyeing a ban on selling of cigarette products as part of its campaign on total war against smoking.
Mayor Emmanuel Aranda said the Municipal Government is currently studying the possibility of implementing an ordinance prohibiting the sale of tobacco products among retailers, from big grocery establishments in the town proper to the small stores in the barangays.
Aranda said that since last month they have started to strictly enforce the anti-smoking ordinance in major public places like schools, town plaza, market, and other government establishments.
“Seeing its negative impact to public health, we are really campaigning to totally eradicate smoking in Binalbagan,” Aranda said, adding that they target to declare the town as smoking-free local government unit by the end of next year.
The mayor added that the Municipal Government, through its Sangguniang Bayan, is already planning to modify the existing anti-smoking ordinance or draft a new one that imposes a cigarette selling ban in all areas in Binalbagan.
Before it passes the Municipal Council, the revised ordinance will still go through thorough studies and series of hearings and public consultations.
Moreover, through its anti-smoking campaign, the municipality has already noted a decrease of about 40 percent on the number of smokers in public places.
After given warnings, those caught violating the ordinance were fined from P350 to P1,500 depending on the level of offenses, Aranda said.
As part of the initial strategies to eventually eliminate smoking in Binalbagan, the Municipal Government also plans to establish a specific “smoking area” located at the boundaries of the town and nearby Hinigaran.
“By providing additional financial burden to smokers, particularly the fare of going to the designated smoking area on top of incurring expenses from high cost of cigarettes, we are looking at reducing their number significantly,” the mayor added.
