Muntinlupa smoking ban takes effect today

MANILA, Philippines — The Muntinlupa City government will start enforcing its Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance, which bans smoking in public places.

Under City Ordinance 17-072, smoking tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes or e-shishas is prohibited in places that are accessible to the public regardless of ownership, workplaces, government facilities and outdoor areas where people gather, except for designated smoking areas compliant with local government standards.

Violators will be issued citation tickets. Those caught smoking in public may be fined up to P2,500 or made to perform eight hours of community service.

Those caught violating the ordinance’s provisions on the sale and advertising of tobacco products and nicotine delivery systems may be fined up to P5,000 or made to perform 14 hours of community service.

Tez Navarro, city public information officer, said members of the Muntinlupa Smoke-Free Task Force and deputized officers will start apprehending and issuing citation tickets to violators of the anti-smoking ordinance.

She said Mayor Jaime Fresnedi urged the public to quit smoking in the city’s public places.

Navarro said deputized officers  will patrol business parks and transport terminals.

She added that roads and parks in subdivisions and villages are not exempted from the smoking ban.

Navarro also clarified that selling tobacco products, particularly on the street, without a permit from the local government is prohibited.