Davao City has led the country in aggressive anti-smoking initiatives, foremost of which is the ordinance that banned smoking in many public places. Several years ago, Davao City imposed strict rules against smoking in restaurants, hotels, transportation terminals, etc. Eventually, the national government followed suit and made it into a law.
Now, the city’s legislative body has passed on first reading an ordinance which seeks to ban the sale of cigarettes on city streets. According to an article in Sun•Star Davao yesterday:
The proposed ordinance defined public places as streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, schools and gymnasiums. Those prohibited from retailing cigarettes include sari-sari stores, groceries, supermarkets, public markets and vendors, especially the “takatak” boys.
“This is to complement our Anti-Smoking Ordinance which has been implemented for eight years now,” Laviña said.
Councilor Peter T. Laviña further stated that, with the ban in place, it would be difficult for smokers to buy cigarettes. This would also act as a deterrent for minors, he added.
I am currently a smoker, so whatever I say against this proposed ordinance might be viewed as biased. But do hear me out. Would making it difficult for smokers to buy cigarettes be worth the loss of livelihood among the city’s indigent?
When I buy smokes, I try to make it a point to buy from these takatak boys (ambulatory street vendors who carry wooden boxes filled with different brands of cigarettes and menthol candy). They actually sell Marlboros at a higher price, but I prefer to buy from them. Why? Because I appreciate their effort to make a living and somehow help themselves and their families. Instead of resorting to begging or stealing, these kids — which number in the hundreds, if I’m not mistaken — are trying to get by through sweat and tears.
Smokers will certainly find a way to get their fix, even if it becomes more difficult to do so. They will always find a way. In the end, they won’t ‘suffer’ at all (health-wise, yes, but that’s not my point here). But those cigarette vendors are the ones who will feel the brunt of this ordinance, because they’ll have lost a means to earn money if this ordinance gets enacted in its present form.
I really hope that our city councilors will think this through much more carefully before they proceed with this ordinance.
That’s exactly what I need!!!
Hey Aileen! What’s that you need exactly…?
there should be some kind of alternative if cigarette selling is to be taken away as means of livelihood, looy pud kaayo ang naningkamot intawon.
The issue here is not the livelihood of the vendors but cigarette smoking per se…
@Daniel — I’m aware that the ultimate issue is smoking and its hazards to health. But my point in this particular blog post is that, no matter how hard the government tries to make it for smokers to get cigarettes, they will find a way. So, in effect, the measures the government is trying to put in place might be for naught, and might in fact hurt those who are trying to make a living by selling cigarettes.
Btw, I’m not trying to defend smoking. Not at all.
this is the first time i’ve heard of this. why are they doing this? too much na
in my opinion if takatak boys are no longer allowed to sell cigarrettes in davao the city government must give them a another source of income .it is good to have that kind of ordinance because we non smokers are free from those person who smoke.thats good but the city council must think what is the bestfor thier constituents…more power
I read replies that non smokers will be free from those person who smoke. The public ban on smoking should have taken care of that and it did not. I do not smoke, but if I did want to smoke and could not purchase them in Davao I would get them regardless of City Ordinance. Relatives in General Santos or even nearer locations could send them to me. It will be similar to the Texans that do not allow gambling in their State, but drive across the border to Louisiana to gamble losing tax dollars for their own State and employment for their own people. All the ban on selling will do is open the door to the black market. One reply was “that is exactly what I need.” I really do not know what that meant, but if it meant an ordinance to enable them to stop smoking they should initiate a little self responsibility and stop. In the past I have counseled for years with people that wanted to stop an addicition only to hear them say this is what a loved one wants. If it is not what you want no one is going to do anything to get you to stop an addicition. It is like something a priest told me during the holidays one of the reasons priest were stopped from marrying was that they were stealing from the Church to support their wife and children. I had never heard that before and do not know if it is true or not. If someone is stealing that is a character flaw and you do not correct character flaws with ordinances, laws and rules. I do not like second hand smoke and I certainly support not being in public buildings with smokers, but chocolate candy is not good for me being a diabetic, but I do not expect and ordiance to be passed banning the sell of chocolate in Davao.
@Tom Martin — Very well put. My point exactly.
i hope our new anti smoking ordinance wiil be pass right away…dapat maging concern yung mga smoker dahil nalalanghap namin yung ibinubuga nila…they should have a place or a room to smoke..sila sila kasama lang dun sa isang room or place…nabubuhay naman yung mga bars kahit may ordinance tayo na ganito…
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people will then be compelled to find another source of living. I know we feel bad about them but I believe it's just necessary. Poor people will not try harder to alleviate their conditions to a more decent one knowing that there are a lot of alternatives which is just ain’t enough.
"through a more decent…"
hello to all, i just want to ask if what is the rationale of this ordinance?