Kabayan, Benguet has deputized individuals to enforce the town’s Smoke-Free Ordinance.
The deputized individuals – composed of barangay officials, health workers, Sangguniang Kabataan officials, and representatives from other government offices – participated in a training conducted by the municipality, in partnership with the Provincial Health Office and with the technical assistance from Transcending Institutions & Communities, Inc., that aimed to capacitate people on how they can help in the efforts to reduce tobacco use.
During their training, the participants were oriented on the provisions of the Smoke-Free Ordinance 168-20 or the “Ordinance Prohibiting the Use, Sale, Distribution, and Advertisement of Cigarettes, Electronic Nicotine and Non Nicotine Delivery Systems, Heated Tobacco Products, and other Novel Tobacco Products in Certain Places in the Municipality of Kabayan, Benguet Province, Imposing Penalties for Violations Thereof and Providing Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes”. The ordinance also includes prohibitions on vaping.
The participants were briefed on the importance of MPOWER, which stands for Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies; Protecting people from tobacco smoke; Offering help to quit tobacco use; Warning about the dangers of tobacco; Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; and Raising taxes on tobacco. These six measures are used by countries to help in the reduction of tobacco use.
As deputized enforcers, the group will conduct compliance monitoring, especially on the business establishments and enforce penalties as per the provisions indicated in the Smoke-Free Ordinance particularly those smoking and vaping in public places.
Kabayan’s Smoke-Free Ordinance prohibits the sale of tobacco products to individuals 21 years old and below, selling without proper permit, selling per stick, and advertisement and promotion of tobacco products, among other things. – Press release
