Myra Abubakar remains optimistic about anti-smoking ordinance
Attempts to ban smoking in public places in Zamboanga City have met with mixed reactions, but Councilor Myra Paz-Abubakar of District 1 remains optimistic that the anti-smoking ordinance she authored will be passed this year. The final public hearing was conducted last October 18, 2012 at the City Council’s temporary session hall along R.T. Lim Boulevard. It was participated by transportation agencies, hotels, hospitals, civic organization, and others. The public hearing was scheduled by Councilor Rudy Lim who is the Committee Chairman on Resolution and Ordinances at the Sangguniang Panlungsod where ordinances usually pass for a public hearing.
“It was a successful public hearing. Proper amendments were made then pass for second and final reading, respectively. Everyone contributed and gave their opinion suggestion and comments. I believe we now have a basis for an anti-smoking ordinance,” the lady councilor said. According to Abubakar, there were some amendments especially regarding the penalties for the violators. She said “I have to read the committee report and make the necessary changes for the ordinance then we will pass it for second reading.”
A Smoke Free Taskforce according to Abubakar will also be created to do the checking and see to it that the ordinance will be properly implemented. The team will be composed of City Health Office, City Licensing and other stakeholders. The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed the Smoking Ordinance for first reading last year. The first public hearing was conducted last September 3. Ms. Abubakar stressed that “El smoking has always been a health risk so we are just trying to educate people and make them more aware of the risk of smoking and especially the people who do not smoke that is being affected by smoking.”
The earlier ordinance passed for the first reading was entitled the comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance of Zamboanga City, which aims to safeguard public health by minimizing the risk of exposure to second-hand smoke. In the proposed ordinance the persons who are liable are those caught in his or her possession a lighted cigarette and any persons who are caught smoking in prohibited areas especially public places. Smoking and second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer, increase the risk of heart disease, it can also trigger asthma, and cause acute respiratory diseases.