The local government of Taguig has ordered the closure of three vape shops over the weekend for violating the city’s Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance.
The city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office led the closures of vape shops located in Barangays Sta. Ana, Hagonoy, and Lower Bicutan on Friday.
Mayor Laarni Cayetano said the vape shops violated the perimeter requirements for selling, advertising, and promoting products.
She added the shops were situated within 100 meters of schools, public playgrounds, health facilities, and hospitals, and operating without valid business permits from the local government.
Cayetano urged all business owners, particularly vape shop operators, to submit themselves for inspection to the Smoke-Free Task Force before they commence operations.
“This will help ensure compliance with city regulations, promoting a safe and healthy community, which is a key part of our commitment to maintaining a transformative, lively, and caring environment for all,” she said.
In 2022, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) commended Taguig City for helping the national government in its campaign against smoking and for enforcing ordinances aimed at protecting people from lung cancer and other smoking-related ailment.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said his agency recognized the relentless efforts of Taguig City in protecting the public from the continuing danger posed by smoking, which includes the use of vape and electronic cigarettes.
Taguig City fully implements ordinances that ban smoking in certain public spaces, government buildings, schools, hospitals, public vehicles, and transport terminals.
Some of the initiatives made by the local government include posting a copy of the ordinance on barangay bulletin boards, a public awareness campaign by utilization of a public address system, development of barangay maps showing the points of reference like schools, and playgrounds, among others.
Village officials and members of the Barangay Security Force have the authority to enforce their smoke-free policy.
The authorities said tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke are dangerous.
The MMDA stressed that each local government unit in the National Capital Region shall fully implement a 100 percent smoking-or-vape-free policy.