(UPDATED) QUEZON CITY– Sanggunian President Rob Roque announced through a Facebook note that all smoker’s pocket gardens (Smockets) in the Loyola Schools (LS) will be closed beginning April 19 in compliance with the Tobacco Regulation Act (RA 9211).
According to the note, students caught using the smockets will be charged with a minor offense.
RA9211
The Tobacco Regulation Act better known as Republic Act 9211 was enacted in 2003. Section 5 states that “smoking shall be absolutely prohibited in centers of youth activity such as… colleges and universities.”
First time violation of this section entails a P500-P1000 fine. A second offense would mean a payment of P1000-P5000, and a third would require the violator to pay P5000-P10,000. Also, the area’s ‘business permits and licenses to operate shall be cancelled or revoked.’
RA9211 seeks to ‘promote a healthful environment’ and to ‘inform the public of health risks associated with cigarette smoking and tobacco use’.
Reactions
Smokers and non-smokers alike have mixed reactions to the news.
Cristal Chael Rodriguez, an incoming senior said, “I think closing the smockets will increase the stress of students.”
Incoming senior Kelly Kent Ongkeco agreed that some people de-stress through smoking, but said that the removal of the smockets is ‘a good way of promoting a healthy lifestyle among students and faculty members.’
“It allows them to search for other healthier alternatives for de-stressing. And by closing the smockets, less people would be affected by second hand smoke,” he added.
Meanwhile, John*, an alumnus, said that the smockets are part of Ateneo tradition.
“Ang pagyoyosi ng Atenista ay magaganap kahit mawala ang smocket pero ang karanasan ng pagtitipon ng mga magkakaibigan sa mga lugar na ito ang nagbigay halaga ng smocket para sa akin (Ateneans would still continue smoking despite the removal of the smockets, but the gathering of friends in the smockets are much more important to me),” he added.
*names have been changed to protect the individual
UPDATED: 4/15/2010, 10:36am
View original note here.
