BY: VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
To ensure and protect the health and safety of Pugo residents, the municipality has enacted Ordinance No. 2024-207, also known as the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking and Anti-Vaping Ordinance.
This ordinance strictly bans smoking and the use of e-cigarettes, such as vapes, in public spaces.
This move is aligned with the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, which seeks to uphold every Filipino’s right to clean air.
The ordinance also highlights alarming data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to WHO, while e-cigarettes are more modern, they contain toxic chemicals, nicotine, and other harmful particles that may lead to addiction and unknown long-term health effects.
Violators caught smoking or using e-cigarettes in prohibited areas may face penalties as follows: First offense: 1,000 pesos fine, Second offense: 1,500 pesos fine, and Third offense: 2,500 pesos fine and imprisonment of no less than six months.
