In response to persistent smoking violations in Bacolod City, the Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a resolution urging the local government to intensify the enforcement of Bacolod’s Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance through a coordinated multi-agency crackdown, Councilor Caesar Distrito said Saturday, June 13.
The resolution, authored by Distrito calls on the Office of the City Mayor to strengthen the implementation of City Ordinance No. 641, Series of 2013, particularly in high-traffic public zones like school premises, public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and terminals, the downtown area, public plazas, hospital grounds, and gasoline stations.
Distrito noted that the measure was prompted by rampant public complaints regarding smoking in areas heavily frequented by students, commuters, and patients despite existing local and national laws.
More than a decade after the enactment of the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance, Distrito stressed that the city continues to see violations in places where smoking is clearly prohibited, adding that the resolution seeks to ensure the law is consistently enforced for the protection of public health rather than just existing on paper.
The resolution emphasizes that every Bacolodnon has the right to clean air, pointing out that secondhand smoke heavily impacts vulnerable groups such as minors, senior citizens, pregnant women, and patients.
Distrito specifically flagged covered sidewalks and student waiting areas where violations remain rampant, exposing minors and non-smokers to health risks.
The measure reiterates that smoking in and around PUJs directly violates not only the city ordinance but also national mandates, including Republic Act No. 9211, or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, and Executive Order No. 26, which establishes smoke-free environments in public enclosed places.
To ensure consistent enforcement, the resolution urges the City Mayor to mobilize a joint task force consisting of the City Legal Office Enforcement Team, the Public Order and Safety Office, the City Health Office, the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department, the Bacolod City Police Office, and barangay officials.
Beyond strictly apprehending and issuing citations to violators, the approved measure also calls for intensified public education campaigns and the installation of highly visible “No Smoking” signs throughout the city.
Distrito said that the resolution is not simply about issuing penalties, but about protecting public health, promoting responsible behavior, and ensuring that public spaces remain safe, healthy, and smoke-free for everyone.*
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