BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Alarmed over the increasing number of people engaged in smoking even in public places, Mayor Mauricio Domogan ordered concerned authorities to strict implement the city's no smoking policy, especially in public places and government offices, to help in an uphill climb to clean the city's air from pollutants. To set an example, the local chief executive directed all employees of the city government to refrain from smoking in the different parts of City Hall except in identified smoking areas so that non-smokers will be spared from the serious negative effects of smoke to their health. Domogan pointed out that smokers must learn from the hardships of smokers who suffered serious illnesses before dying so that they will learn to quit smoking and start a new lease in life with better chances of living longer. The premises and offices of City Hall were already tattered with no smoking posters to serve as a constant reminder for employees and their clients not to smoke or for smokers to already quit smoking to significantly contribute in cleaning the city's air and improving the air quality.
Since the reactivation of the Alay sa Kalinisan, the city government's partner in its clean and green efforts, thousands of smokers were already apprehended and fined after they were caught puffing cigarettes in public places and even inside public utility vehicles which is in violation of the provisions of Ordinance 54, Series of 1989. In order to strengthen the campaign, Chief Insp. Tessie Sarmiento, chief of the police community relations branch, said citizens' arrest could be utilized in order to instill discipline against individuals who refuse to abide by the laws being implemented prohibiting smoking in public places. (Dexter A. See)
