ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) – Roxas City officials are determined to enforce the city’s smoke-free ordinance.

City Legal Officer Joseph Ador Ramos said the Smoke-Free Task Force is strictly implementing the said ordinance in order to protect the lives of the people, particularly the innocent ones who are mostly victims of second- and third-hand smoke.

Ramos explained that under said ordinance, human rights of both of the violators and the victims of smoking are protected but the police power of the government must also be given equal emphasis and must prevail if it would be for the greatest good for the greatest number.

Since the ordinance was implemented April 25 until May 25, the task force was able to apprehend 74 violators.

Ramos clarified that pictures of violators in the act of smoking in a public place, taken by the task force, of violators who were caught on the act of smoking while in a public place are not meant to humiliate them.

These photos are for documentation purposes that will form part of the report to be submitted to the Department of Health (DoH) as well as for the evaluation of the activities of the city government here.

During the launching of the “Cigarettes are Eating You Alive” campaign of the province in partnership with Department of Health– Bloomberg Project, City Health Officer Dr. Amelita Robles revealed that through the implementation of the said ordinance – not only in the city but throughout the province – they are optimistic that there will be a reduction in the number of illnesses associated to smoking.

Robles likewise stressed that among the public places that the task force is going into include the public markets, public offices, air and seaports, public transport, and the like.

She added that at the opening of this school year, they will be working closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) and school officials so that student body organizations may be utilized in the campaign.

On the other hand, Vice Mayor Ronie Dadivas, who is the city’s acting mayor, revealed that they have been invited by the DoH to attend the awarding ceremony in Manila of the Red Orchid Awards on May 31, which is one of the highlights of the World No Tobacco Day celebration.

It was learned that the DoH Red Orchid Awards 2011 aims to commend the 100-percent tobacco-free provinces, municipalities, cities, government offices, DoH Centers for Health Development, and DoH hospitals to save 10 Filipinos who die every hour and the one-third of the population who is at risk of dying from debilitating diseases due to tobacco use.