Victorias City imposes smoking ban as stated in the City Ordinance, prohibiting any person to smoke cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and all other smoke emitting paraphernalias in public areas of the City which was also stipulated in Section 5 of Republic Act 9211 known as the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.
The City’s areas of jurisdiction where smoking is banned are inside the public buildings; public utility vehicles and other means of transportation; enclosed public places such as movie houses or cinema theatres, hospitals, clinics, schools, etc. and other enclosed areas outside of one’s private places of work or any duly designated smoking area.
Violators of this ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of P100 for first offense, P200 for second offense and P500 or an imprisonment of five days or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court for third offense.
The City has ordered those people in-charge of operation and administration of a movie house, cinema, theatre, hospital, clinic, schools, colleges and other educational institutions, other public places or government offices, to be responsible in putting up a “NO SMOKING AREA” sign in their particular designated places.
The City currently conducts an extensive information drive on this activity to increase awareness of the people of Victorias regarding the smoking ban and its adverse effects on the health of a person. by: Jemaimah Taladico
