Sto. Tomas strictly implements smoking ban

(Photo Courtesy by Global Times)

Sto. Tomas in Pangasinan strictly enforces smoking ban and has been a zero-smoking zone since the implementation of the nationwide smoking ban or Executive Order (EO) No. 26 that started on July 23.

Mayor Timoteo Villar III started series of meetings with the barangay officials and the residents after it was announced that President Duterte was to implement the said ban in smoking. In line with this, smoking has also been banned in schools and in public places where the vendors of the town even signed a manifesto stopping the sale of cigarettes.

According to the EO, smoking is prohibited in public spaces such as schools, recreational facilities, elevators, stairwells, fire hazard areas, hospitals, clinics, and food preparation areas. It was also stated in Section 3 that acts of selling and displaying cigarettes were also prohibited.

(Photo Courtesy by Eagle News)

“The people here are in unison that such order must be strictly implemented for health and financial reasons,” Villar said in an interview with Sunday Punch.

Aside from being a zero-smoking zone, Sto. Tomas was also known as the only town unaffected by drugs in Pangasinan. According to Sunday Punch, Villar stated: “We have no difficulty in implementing smoking ban here because people of Sto. Tomas are known to be united and cooperative for as long as it redounds to their welfare.”