- Collection of fines for smoking and liquor ordinances increased in 2023: VRU
THE VICES Regulation Unit (VRU) noted an increase in the collection amount on fines for violations of the anti-smoking ban, liquor ban, sobriety ordinance, certification fees for designated smoking areas, and cigarette permits.
Davao Vice Regulation Unit OIC retired PCol. Hernando Q. Las said their total collection from January to November 2023 reached P11,487,000, which was higher than the total collection from January to November 2022 of P8,624,700.
The 2023 collection for anti-smoking citation tickets was P7,339,000; P3,256,000 for violation of liquor ban Ordinance No. 004-13; P846,000 for violation of Sobriety Ordinance No. 0410-18; and P46,000 for Certification Fee for Designated Smoking area and permit to sell.
The cases filed for Anti-Smoking Ordinance in 2023 also increased from 304 in 2022 to 396 in 2023. For the liquor ban, the cases filed were 393 in 2022 to 515 in 2023.
“Nagatabang ang PNP sa atoa sa apprehension (The Philippine National Police) is helping us in the apprehension),” Las said, adding that their office has 50 enforcers all over the city.
The citation tickets are settled at the City Treasurer’s Office. He said that for the year 2024, they target a collection of Php 12 million.
“Continue lang gihapon ang among apprehensions (We will continue our apprehensions),” he said. They foresee that no persons will smoke in public places anymore as the campaign enters a new year.
He reiterated the warning on the ill effects of smoking.
“Ang sigarilyo makadaot sa lawas ug daghan na og nangamatay tungod sa sigarilyo (Smoking is harmful to the body and many have died because of smoking),” he said.
He added that penalties for the anti-smoking violation are P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 and imprisonment for the third offense.
For the Liquor Ban violation, the penalty is P3,000 for the first offense, P5,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 plus imprisonment for the third offense.
For the Sobriety ordinance, the penalty is P3,000 for the first offense, P5,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 plus imprisonment according to the court’s discretion for the third offense.
Las clarified that the Liquor Ban Ordinance and the Sobriety Ordinance are different since the former takes effect from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m., while sobriety ordinance violators may be apprehended any time.
