The local government here is urging smokers to join a free smoking cessation clinic organized by the City Health Office. This is in line with the implementation of the smoke-free ordinance on Sept. 1, 2012.
City Administrator William Ablong said the cessation clinic is also mandated in the ordinance for smokers who are willing to quit their smoking habit.
“The clinic and the cessation program is already in place. But so far, nobody has signed up for it yet,” said Ablong.
He said Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria earlier issued a memorandum circular banning smoking in city government-owned buildings here.
With the law’s enforcement just a few weeks away, Ablong is hopeful that smokers will participate in the clinic to help them quit smoking.
The smoke-free ordinance declares public areas, including public transportation and government-owned facilities, around Dumaguete City as off-limits to smoking.
Around 100 enforcers coming from the 30 barangays here and police personnel have been deputized to enforce said ordinance after they completed two batches of trainings.
Ablong revealed that of the total enforcers, around 20 are smokers.
City Health Officer Dr. Ma. Sarah Talla said they will invite the smokers in the enforcement group to form the first batch of clients for the cessation clinic.
Dumaguete-based Philippine News Agency (PNA) Bueau Chief Judy Flores-Partlow, a smoker who has been cigarette-free for four months now, lauded the smoke-free ordinance.
Partlow started smoking at the age of 20. Four months ago, she decided to stop the habit.
With the city now banning smoking in public places starting next month, Partlow said she will be urging her sisters who smoke to stop their smoking habit to not only avoid violating the law but also to avoid smoke-related diseases.
Dr. Talla said the number of tobacco-related respiratory diseases caused by first-hand or second-hand smoking have been on the rise in Dumaguete City, particularly cases involving bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and pneumonia.
The city health officer added that the nebulizers at their clinic is overused now as more children are suffering from asthma, even those who come from families with no medical history of asthma.
Records show that 10 Filipinos die every hour due to tobacco-related diseases. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
