Published in the Negros Daily Bulletin newspaper on July 21, 2017

Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares III led the celebration of the 39th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week at the Talisay public plaza recently, a press release from the city said.The event was organized by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, and the differently-abled citizens cheered Lizares’ announcement of a proposed P450 quarterly allowance for the city’s 850 registered persons with disabilities, or a total of P1.6 million, to be allocated starting January 2018.

Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares III with the city’s persons with disabilities, and residents, at the 39th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week observance recently*

Lizares added that if time and resources permit, the distribution of PWD allowance may even start as early as the third quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, the city is ready to implement the nationwide ban on smoking.

This as Councilor Randy Ereñeta pushed for the passage of the city’s Comprehensive Smoke Free Ordinance, in support of Executive Order No. 26, signed by President Duterte on May 16, that bans smoking in all public places nationwide.

Ereñeta, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health and Nutrition, is set to conduct committee hearings and public consultation to reach a positive consensus relative to the imposition of the smoking ban, including identification of areas, a press release said.

He said prior consultation is imperative and he is open to revision of some salient provisions of the ordinance.

EO 26 imposes a fine of P500 to P10,000 for those caught smoking in public places and a fine of P5,000 to imprisonment of up to 30 days on those who give or sell tobacco products to minors. The licenses and business permits of erring establishments may also be revoked by concerned local government units.

A Smoke-Free Task Force, to be chaired by Mayor Lizares, will be created to monitor the strict enforcement and implementation of the smoking ban. The task force will be composed by representatives from the City Health, City Legal, Public Information Office, Business-Permits-and-Licensing, Treasurer, Environment and Natural Resources Office, Police, DepEd, Commission on Higher Education, PESO, and DSWD, among others, the press release added.*