The Vice Regulation Unit saw an increase in its total collection from payment of fines arising from violations of the anti-smoking, liquor ban, sobriety ordinance, certification fees for designated smoking areas, and permits to sell cigarettes.
Davao Vice Regulation Unit officer-in-charge retired PCol. Hernando Q. Las said in an interview with the City Information Office on Friday that their total collection from January to November 2023 is Php 11,487,000, which is higher compared to the total collection from January to November 2022 of Php 8,624,700.
The 2023 record for anti-smoking citation tickets was PHP 7,339,000; for violation of liquor ban Ordinance No. 004-13 was Php 3,256,000; for violation of Sobriety Ordinance No. 0410-18 was Php 846,000; and from Certification Fee for Designated Smoking area and permit to sell was Php 46,000.
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 for the violators are from their office and the payment is done 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 Php 1,000 for the first offense, Php 2,000 for the second offense and Php 5,000 and imprisonment according to the discretion of the court for the third offense.
For Liquor Ban violation, the penalty is Php 3,000 for the first offense, Php 5,000 for the second offense, and Php 5,000 plus imprisonment according to the discretion of the court for the third offense.
For the Sobriety ordinance, the penalty is Php 3,000 for the first offense, Php 5,000 for the second offense, and Php 5,000 plus imprisonment according to the discretion of the court for the third offense.
Las clarified that the Liquor Ban Ordinance and the Sobriety Ordinance are different in a way that liquor ban violators are apprehended from 1 am to 8 am, while sobriety ordinance violators may be apprehended at any time. CIO
