Stiffer fines up vs. smoking ban violators in Cotabato

COTABATO CITY -- Stiffer fines are awaiting violators of the imposed smoking ban here starting this week.

Rolen Balquin, city public safety office chief, said fines are now doubled to add more teeth to the existing anti-smoking city ordinance.

Balquin, a retired police officer and former city police director, said that from the existing amount of PHP500 for first-time offenders, the amount has been raised to PHP1,000; second offense from PHP1,500 to PHP3,000; and third offense from PHP2,500 to PHP5,000.

Each fine also comes with a corresponding community service if violators fail to pay for their violation – daylong community service for first-timers; three days for second timers; and five days or imprisonment as ordered by the local court for repeated violations.

“The order came about after smoking violators included a policeman, a traffic enforcer, and city government employees, among others,” he said over a local radio station.

Balquin said grocery stores and convenience store outlets around the city would also be subjected tor inspection and confiscation of cigarette products in the line with the efforts to make the city a “smoke-free” zone.

Almost 400 smoking violators here had either been fined or ordered to render community service since the smoking ban or City Ordinance 3866 (Tobacco Regulation Ordinance of Cotabato City) was implemented this year. (PNA)