Group calls for smoking ban at ports, terminals

MANILA, Philippines - With most travelers coming back from the provinces after Holy Week, cancer survivors’ group New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP) urged the transport sector to implement a “no smoking” policy in all ports and terminals nationwide.

In a statement issued yesterday, NVAP president Emer Rojas said other transport companies should follow the move of Araneta Center to ban smoking in its new bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City.

He noted the ingenious policy adopted by the new bus terminal is clear proof that it is doable to protect travelers from the dangers brought by cigarette smoking. 

“We hope that other transport terminals, airports, seaports, and even jeepney and tricycle terminals, will make it a point to prohibit cigarette smoking,” he added.

Rojas said that drivers and conductors should continue to adopt the “no smoking” policy even after leaving their terminals.

“We hope that public utility vehicle drivers and conductors will cease from smoking as they head from the terminals to their destination points in order to protect the traveling public,” he added.

He underscored the importance of having such policy to protect travelers against the hazardous smoke coming from cigarettes, especially this summer vacation season when traveling is at its peak.

He cautioned that the Tobacco Regulation Act bans smoking in all public places and public conveyances, which pertain to modes of transportation servicing the general population, such as elevators, airplanes, buses, taxicabs, ships, jeepneys, light rail transits, tricycles, and similar vehicles.

Public places, on the other hand, refer to confined areas servicing the general public, such as public transportation terminals.