KALIBO, Aklan—Environment and health Councilor Cynthia de la Cruz said the plan to make Kalibo a smoke-free Aklan capital is now in full swing.
De la Cruz cited that task force members caught 90 individuals as an anti-smoking policy was passed by the Sangguniang Bayan. Likewise, the task force also accosted sari-sari (small retail) stores selling cigarettes after 30 days of a campaign against smoking. The owners of these stores (14) were also ordered to pay a fine.
Some 41 of the total 104 arrested have paid penalties already, while 29 have demand letter asking them to pay the penalties.
The two malls here also supported the anti-smoking drive by prohibiting smoking both inside and outside their establishment.
“I commend the task force for their unwavering commitment to make Kalibo a healthy town capital of the Aklan province,” de la Cruz said. “The operation of our anti-smoking task force is now in full swing.”
Individuals caught smoking in public are penalized P500 each at first offense. Stores caught selling cigarettes are penalized P1,000.
Meanwhile, Ramel Buncalan, an anti smoking advocate and a task force volunteer, said that among the places they visited for the campaign included shopping centers, schools, the Kalibo International Airport, the public market and even the cockpit arena.