The draft executive order on the nationwide smoking ban has reached his desk but President Rodrigo Duterte is still inclined to further study the proposal.

“I’m measuring the resistance so whether I can compromise,” the President said in a media interview when asked if he has signed the EO on the smoking ban.

“Just give me enough time to study,” Duterte added.

The President raised some questions about the draft EO, particularly the provision on the proposed smoking areas inside buildings. He said such provision was “not adopted” in the ordinance of Davao City that banned smoking in all public places.

“For example, smoking areas inside building. We did not adopt in our ordinance because ganon din papasok so but there are a lot of dynamics there,” he said.

Duterte said he was supposed to sign the EO this week, adding Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial was trying to “hurry the measure.”

“But I said Davao is different from all the rest of the nation so I have to be very careful in trying to navigate the way how I can present it to the public,” he added.

Duterte said he would still get the view of the medical sector on the proposed smoking ban.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by MB Online

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