Okay I get the point of second hand smoke issue and trust me I try to avoid that too and I do it by avoiding smoking in areas where there are children and pregnant women.rnrnNow my question is WHERE? where are smokers allowed to smoke? I have read their guidelines at their website but it seems that MMDA has forgotten about the people who smoke too, add to that MMDA enforces also do smoke and most of them I tell you. You could check their website and see for yourself that they did not indicate the places where smokers can smoke. I suggest that they could build smoking lounges or a smoking area as a sort of compromise.

What this society needs is to be taught respect and conscience. Respect for what a person wants to do and believes and conscience for people to be considerate to other parties who might be aggravated by their actions and choices and makes sure people around him/her is not affected nor hurt. rnrnIsn't this possible?

Why are non-smokers like this? it's like a situation where a closed-minded christian insists to a Muslim that Allah is false.

I hope the post have contact numbers with it wherein the public can directly repost violators of the law. :>

@casavwatrnExactly.

there are tons of major issues that needs MMDA's attention more than the smokers on the street. Why can't they focus first on the traffic, colorum and unregistered vehicles, street vendors, street garbages, and much more. Do you think that by apprehending 6,154 smokers is more beneficial than actually resolving or at least slightly alleviating those problems?rnrnIMHO, this is just 1 of those "pa-pogi" campaigns of MMDA which really doesn't help our people. It would be more productive if they can remove 10 smoke-belching vehicles on the road than just 6,154 smokers.

@darthanjrnNo one has to pay for those expenses but just themselves. Yes it really goes with the job. I'm not being rude, I'm just trying to present the fact that there are certain risks with the job they chose. We can compare it with the call center agents, the disadvantage of their work would be their different working schedules. Sooner or later, bad effects for their health might start coming.rnrnI suggest that they consider other jobs that would keep them away from second hand smoke. And besides, most of the waiters I've encountered turned to be smokers as well. rnrnAnd if I may add, smoking is just a FACTOR for cancer. Since cancer is really an idiopathic disease (has unknown causes), it may also be hereditary so you don't end the story with smoking being the only reason for that.

Make it P10000 :)

@alyssa smoking in bars is harmful to the waiters and people who work in these establishments who are exposed to it for long hours, every day. & some might say it comes with the job but when (not if, but when) they suffer diseases due to inhaling the carcinogenic smoke, who will pay for the expensive health costs?rnrn"Restaurant Smoking as Threat to Waiters" http://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/28/news/restaurant-smoking-as-threat-to-waiters.html

It's an effort to help smokers quit and overcome the addiction. we have to remember that when we smoke, we're harming not just ourselves but those who are inhaling our 2nd-hand smoke. some of us don't realize that both smoking & inhaling 2nd-hand smoke can both cause cancer.rnhttp://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/ETS

@glad to be pinoyrnThe no smoking rule in streets is bearable, but in bars? It just doesn't make sense. But if they would provide smoking areas within their vicinity, then it would be better for both parties.rnrn@niknok seyerrnThat's given. Not that we do not put much concern on our lives. Because if we don't, we could have just shot ourselves in the head.

here in davao, the fine is worth 10k. lol. 500 won't scare smokers off.

Relax guys. This makes quitting smoking easier. :)rnrnWhen you stop smoking for a long time, the smell and sight of cigarettes burning will disgust you. Second, when you're in the withdrawal period, the sight of someone smoking will make you miss it. And if these rules are followed, it will make it easier for you to stop the habit altogether

Yey to no smoking ! :Drnrn@alyssarnI believe it's not just for 2nd hand smokers. It's for smokers sake as well. ;)

For me, just like drinking before driving should be illegal so is smoking in public should be illegal also.rnrnThe similarity being both are OK to do because it's not illegal. On the other hand, drinking before driving is forbidden because it can cause other people harm so is smoking in public places which also does other harm.rnrnAbout the tobacco industry being an important part of the economy, we should stick to our basic principles. Since when does our economy became more important that our health?

if they want to ban smoking, ban drinkingl, corruption, smoke belchers (vehicles), gambling and the like as well. let's see who will complain. (why don't they ban those who are noise makers too like those teenagers who got out from their cages)rnrni'm a smoker but i respect other people so i don't smoke in areas where majority are non-smokers or that is a no-smoking zone and i try my very best to dispose of my cig butts properly but for those who are non-smokers, respect us too. don't go near smoking areas or where most people are enjoying the smoke.

@smoker,rnrnAre you suggesting we should allow people to violate most of the laws? For example, drunk driving, overspeeding, jaywalking, and other violations. All of these offenses are subject to penalties and following your argument, violators should not be penalized.rnrnSingapore is ahead of us when in comes to cleanliness. If you will say the Philippines cannot accomplish the same success Singapore is enjoying, is it possible that you have placed judgment upon your countrymen already even before they tried? Many among us are believers which makes us winners. If you do not believe in yourself and in your people, please allow us, winners, to continue believing in ourselves by not pulling us down. Winners will always have the tendency to push people up, teaching others to believe in themselves. Losers have the tendency to pull down people by hurting their confidence.rnrnQuestion: Do we choose to be winners or losers?rnrnRegards,

i dont understand the fact that they have to ban smoking in bars etc. I mean there's a concept called, "SMOKING AREA", you dont want to inhale second hand smoke? then dont go near the SMOKING AREA. simple as that.rnrnsmokers have rights too and we sure as hell PAY A LOT OF TAXES.

Based on my name, my stance is self-explanatory. It's great that they want to reduce the amount of pollution and the amount of smoking-related casualties. However, I believe that this act takes advantage of the smokers (taking money from them, etc.). It's as if we have extra tax to pay! If the Philippine government is trying to copy Singapore in trying to be clean, they will never succeed,

@surg,rnrnIf you trully believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, then we will have to respect your position. At least you are the type of person who presents intelligent arguments instead of complaining and complaining with no solution, like a headless chicken running in circles.rnrnToo bad, we have opposing positions.rnrnRegards,

@Alyssa,rnrnYou have a good point, smoking can be addictive. While we are encouraging everyone to refrain from smoking, you can always smoke in designated smoking areas. You will be free from the FEAR of harming a 2nd hand smoker.rnrnRegards,

@ glad to be pinoyrnrnThe survival of an industry far outweighs any argument in this debate, because whether we like it or not, the tobacco industry will be here to stay to pay their dues and provide jobs. People will simply come and go.

I myself is a smoker and I'm greatly affected by the new implemented policy by MMDA. I agree that second hand smoke has certain bad effects for an individual's health. But just like what f-ck said, it's nearly impossible to ban people from smoking in public areas like bars and restaurants when smoking itself is not even illegal. Bars are known for drinking purposes and like it or not, smoking. You're like defeating the purpose of enjoying the place when you dissociate one from the other.rnrnYou can say that you may be a drinker but not a smoker, but believe me, for every one drinker, there are six drinkers who happen to be smokers as well.rnrnIt is not just all about freedom of choice, it's about pulling something out of a person's system. It might sound st*p*d for non-smokers but for smokers like me, getting something out of your system in just a snap is as hard as hell. It's like stopping you from eating your favorite dish, or cutting you out from playing your most preferred sport. Cigarettes will never be familiarly tuned as addictive if you can get away with it over a night.rn

@Surg,rnrnThank you again for presenting a good argument. We are learning from you.rnrnI agree individual rights should not be violated. However, once these rights are practiced at the expense of the others, then the right of the others are already violated. If we can come-up with a program that will allow individuals practice their rights without violating the rights of the others, then these individual rights should not only be allowed, but also protected. Perhaps it is not too much trouble to smoke in smoking areas.rnrnI agree the tobacco industry is good for the country. The industry provides jobs and income for the country in the form of taxes, and many more. But we also have to agree that the industry also provides troubles and difficulties. The only question is, which outweighs the other.rnrnRegards,

@f-ck,rnrnI understand where you are coming from, and it saddens me to know there are people like you who are bitter and sad. It must be difficult for you.rnrnYou present a good point but some of us believe that the lives of more than 50,000 2nd hand smokers dying every year is more important than the right of some of us to smoke in public. Maybe you can argue people can smoke in public without harming another. I hope that is the reality but in many cases, it is not.rnrnRegards,

In my books, smoking is an individual right that no law should be written to stop it. Like drinking alcohol, gambling or eating excessively, it is an individual responsibility. The tobacco industry is good for the country, good for the unskilled labor force, good for medium and small businesses, it is good for medical practitioners and good for drug manufacturers. We have to accept the fact that we do not live in a perfect world therefore, must find a way to give access and common ground to both smokers and non-smokers.

glad to be pinoy you can kiss both sides of my as-srn,you dont smoke?one of those fitness freaks?go f-ck yourselfrnrnand the firt poster is rightrnwho in the f-uck in his right mind can ban people from doing it in the streets when smoking tobacco is not illegal rnits f-ucking st*p*d rnf-uck you mmdarn

Dear Philip,rnrnYou are right!!! In fact, the tobacco industry has already begun to question some of the provisions of this campaign. This is the reason why the public needs to take part in this campaign. Let us show our appreciation and approval to let MMDA know we are behind them in this campaign. Let us also express our expectations so MMDA will be encouraged to work harder. Maybe it will also be a good idea of MMDA will deputize qualified citizens to apprehend violators.rnrnRegards,

My lobby group ( Tobacco Industry) will take care of this. A few thousand US dollars will turn this into pfffft.rnWaddaya say proud to be Pinoy?

In less than a month, the soft campaign against smoking apprehended over 6,000 violators. MMDA could have derived P3M from this alone (at P500 each). Can you imagine the income this campaign can generate if done on full swing? Following this thought, maybe it is a good idea for MMDA to add more apprehending officers, resulting to more income for the agency.

Dear Mike,rnrnHaving 87,000 people dying yearly due to smoking, of which majority of these are 2nd hand smokers, I believe most of us strongly support this campaign. If we can protect the victims who are in indoor areas, why can we not protect the victims who are in outdoor areas?rnrnFreedom will always be a concern in democracy. Fredeom to speak, to write, to breath, to think, to imagine, to choose your friends, to eat what you want, and even to smoke. But we have to remember, once freedom is exercised at the expense of the others, that is not called freedom anymore, it is already called ABUSE OF FREEDOM.rnrnBest regards,

i loathe smoking and totally favor banning it in enclosed places..but banning it on the street/public outdoor areas! PLEASE!!!...so long as inhaling tobacco smoke is still legal how on earth, constitutionally, can the MMDA justify outlawing it on the street...utter nonsense and any good lawyer could shoot this ban down in 5 minutes in the courts...