The city’s Vices Regulation Unit (VRU) has sought higher fines for violators of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance to encourage Dabawenyos to kick the habit and to strictly follow the law.
VRU chief Dr. Ashley Lopez said his unit is hoping that with the increase in fines, people will become more cautious on smoking and will eventually quit.
“Our aim for the increase is that the smokers will quit smoking. It is not for the increase of income, that is not our agenda. The income we get from the violations is not the main income of the city,” Lopez said.
Under the existing law, violators are fined P1,500 for first offense; P2,500 for second offense; and, P5,000 for the third offense.
“We are proposing a P500 to P1,000 increase so it will become P2,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second time and P5,000 for the third time,” Lopez said.
For the first quarter of 2018, the VRU recorded 2,100 violators but decreased to 3,200 in the same quarter this year. Most of those apprehended are between the ages of 17 to 45 years old.
Lopez said that the implementation of the anti-smoking ordinance is 24 hours since smokers do not pick their time to smoke.
On May 31, the VRU will celebrate the 17th anniversary of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance. CIO
