AMLAN, NEGROS ORIENTAL — Edmund Tubac and Melvyn Reynado have a lot in common. Although Reynado, 69, is nine years Tubac’s senior, both were into basketball in their younger days in their hometown of Amlan, 21 kilometers north of here. Both of them were also elected as town councilors and are now serving their last terms in office. They were also heavy smokers for about 40 years.
Their similarities don’t end there, though. Both councilors have also kicked the smoking habit and are now in the forefront in the implementation of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance of their town.
They stopped smoking because of different circumstances. “I underwent a quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2008 after my third heart attack,” Tubac, a retired policeman, said.
Reynado, on the other hand, does not suffer from any heart ailment but he gave up smoking after his wife–a non-smoker–needed an angioplasty about the same time Tubac had his surgery, from years of inhaling second-hand smoke. “We never thought second-hand smoke can also be deadly,” Reynado, who only realized the dangers after his wife’s illness, said.
After going through their respective ordeals, Tubac and Reynado agreed to lead an aggressive anti-smoking campaign in their town. “We have to strengthen the enforcement of this ordinance because not everybody could have a chance of availing of the financial help that we obtained through the PCSO and from our congressman, George Arnaiz,” they said. Tubac said that for his quadruple bypass, his family would not discuss the cost within his hearing range lest he get another attack.
“This Ordinance is the only help I can offer my townmates to help them stop smoking,” Tubac said.
Amlan Mayor Bentham dela Cruz praised the councilors’ enthusiasm and persistence in ensuring the passage of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance. “I left them to themselves and each time they came to me, I would just sign and approve whatever they wanted to include in the law,” he said.
On July 15, 2009, the Amlan Municipal Council passed the Anti-Smoking Ordinance which became the first law of its kind in Negros Oriental. The law provided for a reprimand for the first offense, a P500 fine for the second offense and a P1,500 fine for the third offense. In case the offender is unable to pay the fine, he or she will be made to do community service at the rate of P100 per hour.
Dela Cruz said several persons have already rendered community service after they were apprehended for smoking in public places.
Now, the Council amended the ordinance to do away with the reprimand for the first offense and imposes a fine of P100. The Ordinance also provides that of the amount collected, 40 percent goes to enforcer, 30 percent goes to the barangay and 30 percent would to a trust fund in the local government unit to be used for future anti-smoking advocacies.
Dela Cruz admitted that it was difficult to promote the idea of kicking the smoking habit. “Our initial information drive was held at PTA meetings, which were attended mostly by mothers. But the campaign gained male converts after the women refused to let their husbands kiss them if they smell of cigarette smoke,” he recalled.
Dela Cruz said that as a result of the campaign, 23 municipal employees, in addition to other town residents, have either stopped smoking in public places or have stopped smoking altogether.
Reynado said the people knew they were heavy smokers and drinkers and saw the positive effect in us from living a smoke-free life. “They not only agreed that being smoke-free was the only way to go–they gave us a resounding victory in our re-election bids. All candidates belonging to the administration of Mayor dela Cruz won a third term.
“We treat smokers as victims. They deserve all the sympathy they could get because they are addicted to nicotine,” the mayor said, “but we are ensuring that the other people are spared from inhaling second-hand smoke.”
As a result of this advocacy, the Municipality of Amlan received the national Red Orchid Award from the Department of Health last May 30 for exceeding the parameters set by the DOH.
“The challenge now is to maintain our 100 percent rating next year. We hope it can be done,” dela Cruz said.
Amlan also received the DILG Seal of Good Housekeeping Award in 2010.