Beyond unenclosed outdoors, smoking in public buildings, vehicles, enclosed areas, and other areas that the local government had designated as non-smoking place is considered illegal in Davao City. (Photo by MICK M. BASA)

DAVAO CITY (PNA) – After the successful implementation of anti-smoking here, the city became the site for study-tour of foreign nationals that are starting to implement the ban of smoking in their countries.

Dr. Domilyn C. Villareiz, co-chair, Anti-Smoking Task Force of Davao City, said they had been receiving visitors from other countries in order to observe the implementation of the ban of smoking in the city with their recent visitors from Hanoi, Vietnam, and from Thailand.

She said scheduled to visit the city are groups from Malaysia and Indonesia and they are interested in the implementation of the program saying that they have package destination where they bring these foreign nationals to observe.

Mostly, she said are in restaurants, parks, malls and in areas that are often frequented by the public.

Given the success of implementing the Anti-Smoking Ordinance, Villareiz said they get to be invited to lecture or talk on gatherings abroad and in other parts of the country.

Villareiz attributed the success of the implementation to the concerted efforts of both private and government as well as the effective strategies they adopted based on the law provided under Republic Act (RA) 9211 and City Ordinance No. 043.

Other cities in the Philippines also have crafted their own laws namely San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, Talisayan in Misamis Oriental, Sorsogon City, Umingan in Pangasinan, Amlan in Negros Oriental, Baguio City, Hagonoy in Bulacan, Legaspi in Albay, Malabon City, San Carlos City, and Tabaco City in Albay.

She said Baguio, San Carlos and San Jose have similar ordinances with this city while most of the cities and municipalities with anti-smoking ordinance followed the definition of Davao on enclosed places. The 17 cities in Metro Manila will be implementing RA 9211.

Villareiz stressed that under RA 9211 are some provisions that involves advertisements and promotions of cigarette products.

She said cigarette is a legal industry product but with prohibitions under the law.

They have to implement it just in the case of advertisements and promotions they already issued notices to stores displaying signages of their stores with cigarette markings.