The Department of Health supports the decision of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), together with local government units, to pursue the enforcement of its smoking ban in areas covered by Republic Act No. 9211 (Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003).
The Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 213 recently issued a temporary restraining order in a complaint filed by two private employees caught smoking in front of Farmer’s Market in Cubao, a major loading and unloading point for buses and other public utility vehicles. Republic Act 9211 defines the places where the smoking ban can be enforced, and the court held that sidewalks and public thoroughfares are beyond the operation of the ban.
Despite these developments, the DOH continues to drumbeat its advocacy against smoking. The ill effects of smoking are experienced not only by smokers themselves, but also by the unsuspecting public. Inhaling second hand smoke can increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases in adults. Moreover, children become prone to lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, apart from the possibility of stunted physical growth and intellectual development.
In its pursuit of Kalusugan Pangkalahatan, the DOH stresses that the right of a smoker ceases when he or she violates the rights of others to protect their own health.
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