Parañaque to start crackdown on smokers in public places

MANILA, Philippines - The Parañaque City government will crack down on smokers in public places starting Jan. 1, an official said yesterday.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the crackdown against smoking is in accordance with the city’s anti-smoking ordinance and a program to make Parañaque the first “green city” under his administration.

Under Ordinance 10-09, passed during the term of former mayor Florencio Bernabe, public restrooms, places of worship, groceries and convenience stores, supermarkets, theaters, nursing homes, laboratories, public and private wet and dry markets, gasoline stations, and public and private hospitals are no-smoking zones.

“We need to show how serious we are by putting our feet firmly on the necks of all violators,” Olivarez said.

He also required all buildings and establishment owners to apply for proper permits if they intend to put up smoking areas or notify the proper department of existing smoking areas.

City administrator Fernando Soriano said individual violators will be fined P500, P1,000 and P1,500 for their first, second and third offenses.

Owners of businesses that violate the ordinance will be fined P2,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense and P5,000 or closure for the third offense.