TANJAY CITY — Tanjay City has joined others towns and cities in Negros Oriental by passing a law that would prohibit smoking in public places.
Mayor Lawrence Teves said the law will be implemented only after six months of massive information drive.
The Mayor said the anti-smoking Ordinance is being offered as a Christmas gift for a healthy citizenry in celebration of Pasko sa Tanjay Festival towards a healthy city.
He called on residents here to cooperate with government’s drive against smoking.
In a press conference here Tuesday, Department of Health National Director Dr. Asuncion Anden said that smoke-related diseases such as cancer tops the leading causes of deaths in the country.
Anden said tobacco use causes more deaths annually associated with cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and asthma.
She noted that 47.7 percent of adult males aged 15 and above are currently smokers despite the continuous warnings of DOH.
She stressed that local government units have to take the lead and make bold steps to curb smoking among their constituents.
Mayor Teves appealed to the public to work together in the implementation of the ordinance to regulate smoking in the city.
While there at least two national laws that mandate the banning of smoking in public places, it was noted that the local ordinance or the local government unit has the political will to strictly implement the regulation. (PIA)
