Members of the Moma Core Team will continuously conduct inspections of jeepney terminals and nearby establishments to monitor their adherence to cleanliness rules and ordinances on moma (betel nut) chewing, smoking and traffic ordinances.
This came on the heels of Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s issuance of a final warning to jeepney associations to address moma stains, scattered cigarette butts, urine and the overall cleanliness and orderliness of their staging areas or face eviction.
City Health Services Office Sanitation Division Head Engr. Charles Carame echoed the mayor’s order: “This is going to be your first and last warning.”
The team inspected the terminals and stalls from Lakandula Street all the way to the city market where it noted the presence of moma stains. Caretakers were immediately advised to clean up the stained spots.
Daryll Longid, head enforcer of the Public Order and Safety Division, said most areas were found relatively cleaner now than when they first inspected them.
He reminded the stakeholders to maintain cleanliness and discourage others from improper spitting of their moma spitoons.
“We must maintain the cleanliness of our areas so that passengers will not be affected by the unsanitary condition of our staging areas. Remember that we have an ordinance prohibiting the chewing of moma in public places and violation of the same can be a ground for ejecting the PUJ association in this space,” Longid said.
The Smoke-Free Task Force which joined the inspections called out stalls in the terminals that operate without business permits.
Engr. Thea Camiring of the Traffic and Transportation Management Division (TTMD) of the City Engineering Office noted violations like double parking in almost all of the terminals prompting her to remind occupants about the ordinance providing rules governing staging areas.
The core team is composed of the CHSO, POSD, the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Baguio City Police Office, TTMD, and Smoke-Free Baguio Task Force.
The team was joined by Kagitingan barangay officials.
Similar violations may be reported to the Smoke-Free Baguio Task Force Facebook page.
The joint inspections are in line with the implementation of Ordinance 35, s. 2020 or the Anti-Moma Chewing Ordinance, provisions of Republic Act 11900 or Vape Law, Graphic Health Warning Law, Sin Tax Law, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance. – Aileen P. Refuerzo, Sky Aguinaldo, and Karl Pagada
April 20, 2024
