Region 1 Philippines

MMDA nabs 163 smokers on Day 1

Manila, Philippines - At least 163 smokers puffing away in public places in Metro Manila were apprehended on the first day of a metro-wide anti-smoking drive, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Alex Cabanilla reported yesterday.

MMDA environment enforcers, aided by local government personnel, enforced the crackdown on smoking in public places and public conveyances starting yesterday. The MMDA conducted a month-long information drive in June to warn persons spotted smoking in public places.

The MMDA said those apprehended yesterday, given violation tickets by the MMDA’s environment enforcers, will have to pay a P500 fine for their first offense.

According to the MMDA, as of June 27, it managed to warn 8,792 smokers who were seen puffing in areas designated as public places by Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Control Act.

Smokers who will be apprehended for the second time will have to pay a P1,000 fine while those arrested for the third time and for subsequent offenses will have to pay a P5,000 fine. Those who will not be able to pay the fines will be made to render eight hours of community service.

Under RA 9211, public places are defined as “enclosed or confined areas of all hospitals, medical clinics, schools, public transportation terminals and offices, and building such as private and public offices, recreational places, shopping malls, movie houses, hotels, restaurants, and the like.”

Meanwhile, “public conveyances” are defined by RA 9211 as modes of transportation servicing the general population such as, but not limited to, “elevators, airplanes, buses, taxicabs, ships, jeepneys, light rail transits, tricycles, and similar vehicles.”

Tolentino also said that enforcers will also implement anti-smoking laws of various local government units. Four cities – Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong and Parañaque – have banned smoking in “open spaces,” including sidewalks.

Tolentino also said that unless a particular Metro Manila local government prohibits it, smoking is allowed in private vehicles.

Green group backs MMDA

The environment watchdog EcoWaste Coalition yesterday aired its support for the MMDA, saying that non-smokers’ right to health should also be protected.

“We join the MMDA in their strong-willed campaign to make the national capital region safe from tobacco pollution. We appeal to the general public to support this initiative that seeks to protect the public health and the environment from toxic smoke and litter,” said coalition president Roy Alvarez.

Friday – 1 Jul 2011 « A Texan's Life in the Philippines

Here is another one of the 7107 islands associated with the Philippines.  This one, like most of the other ones, looks like a wonderful place to visit.  Another place that I will have on my list of Philippine places to visit.  I think I will actually make a physical list because it should be about this time next year that we will be able to visit a few places around here.  I’ll want it to be only places that we have not already been to.  This would be one of them.

http://www.flyphilippines.com/romblon-tiambanresort.php

Romblon is an island in the Philippines which is located MIMAROPA region in Luzon. It is a cluster of twenty islands lying in the Sibuyan Sea that is practically at the center of the Philippine archipelago. Romblon is south of Marinduque, west of Masbate, east of Mindoro, and north of Panay Island. Romblon is also called “Marble Country” and expert says that Romblon marble is equal to Italian marble in quality.

http://www.thephilippineisland.com/islands/romblon-philippines.html

Useless Knowledge: In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, some people thought comets were the eggs or sperm of planetary systems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romblon

30 Jun – Hits @ 0145 = 595824 which equals 5616 (24H, 51 min).

It was one of those getting up before 0800 days again today.  I’ll have to take a nap later, I can feel it already.  The one fan that we have that is not attached to the wall, you know, the one I’ve been moving around, was dirty and really needed to be cleaned.  So I cleaned it.  I also clean the small fan in the CR.  I cleaned that one yesterday but forgot to mention it in the post.  They were both way overdue.

http://tropicalpenpals.com/buildings/churches/st-joseph-cathedral-romblon-philippines-built-in-1640/

It seems like if Titing is selling his Pepsi products and we are selling ours, it might take some of the business away from us.  But I guess since his are 1-liter bottles and Filipinos are not like Americans, it shouldn’t bother us too much.  A lot of Americans get the 1-liter bottles just for carrying around and drinking for themselves.  I know I did and probably still will if I can get a 1-liter that is cold.  Filipinos use that same 1-liter for their whole family, then use the bottle for something afterwards.

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