Almost seven sacks of cigarette butts shamelessly strewn by smokers were picked-up and cleaned by District Health and Sanitation Teams and the Federation of Barangay Health and Sanitation Team at the central business district.
Health and sanitation teams conducted a day of plogging – the act of picking up trash and litter while jogging – in line with the weekly cleanup drive every Thursday to destroy mosquito breeding sites.
The cigarette butts were cleaned on sidewalks, inlets of drainage system as well in promenade areas particularly public parks despite Ordinance 34 s. 2017 prohibiting the use, sale, distribution, and advertisement of cigarette, vapes, and other tobacco products in public places.
Engr. Charles Bryan Carame, division chief of the City Health Services Office-Sanitation Unit raised concern over the blatant disregard to the Smoke Free Ordinance.
He reminded that Section 5 of the ordinance prohibits smoking in public places or in unauthorized smoking areas.
The Smoke-Free Baguio Task Force with health and sanitation members regularly conduct inspections of business establishments to ensure implementation of Republic Act 11900, Graphic Health Warning Law, Sin Tax Law, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and the Smoke Free Baguio Ordinance.
The Health Services Office Smoke Cessation Clinic and BGHMC Smoke Cessation Clinic is open Monday to Friday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those who need help in quitting. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
