BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Introduction
Davao City is a leading example for taking forward smoke -free agendas in the Philippines. In advance of the 2003 National Tobacco Control Law, the city council passed its Comprehensive Anti -Smoking Ordinance in 2002 and has actively promoted and enforced it. This case study examines Davao’s smoke-free agenda and how it has been implemented. It discusses the impact of the law and lessons learned. Davao City is a sprawling metropolis located in the Southern part of the Philippines. Covering 2,444 square kilometres, it is one of the largest cities by area in the world. It has a population of about 1.4 million -71% of which live in urban areas. With a predominantly migrant population, the city has a diversity of cultures that includes many migrants from Luzon (Tagalogs) and Visayas (Cebuanos and Ilonggos) and at least 10 Indigenous Peoples (tribal groups).
Economically, the city has grown steadily over the last two decades with high levels of inward investment in the last 10 years. With the presence of the country’s top 200 companies in the city, Davao City has a mixed economy incorporating agricultural, service and industrial sectors. Davao City Government leaders from seven Asean member-countries have formed an observers’ mission here to take lessons on how the city government implements its own brand of a no-smoking ordinance, after this city gained prominence when it strictly enforced a similar ban 10 years ago. Dr. Domilyn Villareiz, chief of the anti-smoking unit of the city, said all 10 Asean countries, except Brunei Darusallam, Singapore and Myanmar are expected to be in the city by July, which would be two months into the implementation of City Ordinance 0367-2.
The new local law allows only smoking zones outside of the business establishments which want to put up one for their own smoking clients. The old law, City Ordinance 043-02, allowed segregating an area even inside the business establishment for smokers although several provisions were criticized as being stern, including a ban on smoking in the sidewalks. The implementation of the old law 11 years ago was also witnessed by local government leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam, and covered by a Japanese television. (Manuel T. Cayon / Mindanao Bureau Chief, Apr 2013).
The ordinance passed in November last year, with an executive order already issued to effect its implementation, required the smoking area to be at least 10 meters away from the entrance or exit or any other areas in the building where people pass. The new law also includes all electronic cigarette and water pipes. It also banned selling of cigarettes in and near “accommodation and entertainment establishments and public buildings. (http://www.who.int/whosis, 2012)

Like the national law against smoking in public places, violators would be booked for violation of the law and have to wait for summons on second offense. The first offense would only require an admission of guilt to be allowed to avail themselves of paying only a fine of P500. The old ordinance discarded fine in favor of an immediate court case. Meanwhile, a solon concerned with the number of smokers who continue to smoke said the implementation of the controversial “sin” tax law would be a great help to warn Filipinos against the dangers of smoking to their health.
Studies show that about 600 million people worldwide already live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but its prevalence is predicted to rise to become the world’s third leading cause of death by 2020. At present, COPD kills more than 2.75 millions of people every year, and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that of the 1.2 billion cigarette smokers in the world, one smoker dies every 6.5 seconds due to cancer, heart and lung diseases. The WHO also projects that the number of male smokers will rise modestly from 1 billion to 1.1 billion by 2030. Governments around the world have spent millions of dollars in the fight against diseases caused by smoking, which are otherwise preventable.