Duterte seeking public smoking ban across Philippines

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) – The Philippines’ government is seeking to issue an executive order on a nationwide public smoking ban by the end of this month, President Rodrigo Duterte’s health secretary revealed Tuesday.

Paulyn Ubial told a budget hearing at the Senate that her department hopes the draft presidential order will be issued before a law on graphic health warnings on tobacco products enters into full implementation.

Before winning the May 9 election, Duterte served 22 years as mayor of the southern city of Davao, transforming it from a crime-ridden hovel to a peaceful and investment-friendly city.

He imposed bans on public smoking, and the selling of alcohol and the operation of entertainment spots past midnight.

The Rappler news website quoted Ubial as saying Tuesday that the executive order “[is with the] Office of the President right now, and we hope it will be issued by the end of month, before the full implementation of the graphic health warning law which is November 4".

She added that Duterte had directed that the ban in Davao City be implemented countrywide.

"In public places, they designate a smoking area away from the public. [This could be the] back of a hotel, or a parking area where no public will be exposed [to cigarette smoke]," she added.

She said the draft order would include "two very important provisions" -- a “100 percent smoke-free environment” and that “all designated smoking areas should be outdoors and away from the public.”

Duterte won the May 9 election on a crime-fighting campaign, and has pledged to curb corruption and criminality within three to six months -- but has requested a six-month extension saying he had not realized the severity of the “drug menace”.

He has launched a drive against the illegal drugs trade, under which more than 3,000 deaths have been reported -- 1,490 of them under investigation as of Sept. 10 with authorities blaming suspected vigilante groups.