Suspension of Anti-Smoking Ordinance provisions stirs SP
BARONDA
Iloilo City Councilor Julienne Baronda, chair of the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) assailed her colleague Councilor Erwin Plagata for pushing the suspension of two sections of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance in last week's session without her presence.
In an emotional speech during Wednesday's regular session Baronda slammed Plagata for not giving her "parliamentary courtesy" in passing a resolution suspending two sections of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance.
Baronda was out on official business in last week's session.
Baronda said Plagata could have given her the chance to defend the ordinance by having it tackled when she is around.
PLAGATA
"I don't think there is an urgency to have the ordinance suspended. It's only a matter of discussion with the business groups," Baronda lamented.
To note, the letter of appeal from business groups, Iloilo Business Club and Philippine Retailers Association -- Iloilo Chapter was used by Plagata as basis for pushing for the suspension of the ordinance's two sections.
The two business groups viewed as unfair and illegal Sections 2 and 4 which makes the owner of the establishment or public conveyance also liable if a violator is caught in their area.
"We (together with the business groups) already sat with Mayor (Jerry) Treñas to solve the problem and the lawyers are already studying on what to do with that provision in the ordinance. He (Plagata) could have considered it," Baronda said.
For his part, Plagata defended that his call for the suspension of two sections in the ordinance was for the sake of ICAST.
He said the two provisions are clearly in violation of the law.
"I'm only concerned as interested parties might charge them in court," Plagata said.
From the start Plagata has been critical of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance claiming that it contains a lot of loopholes.
However, Plagata was supported by five other councilors when he moved for the suspension of the ordinance's provisions holding owners of establishments and jeepney drivers liable for the violation committed by smokers.
A number of violators have been caught by ICAST agents since the ordinance was fully implemented about four weeks ago. However, among those who were apprehended nobody was officially charged in court.
The Anti-Smoking Ordinance generally prohibits smoking in designated public places and conveyances in Iloilo City. Violators could be fined P500.00 or imprisoned for two days at the discretion of the court.