Smoking ban stays during EVRAA in Maasin City

By BONG PEDALINO, PIA Southern Leyte
January 5, 2012

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  –  Coaches and trainers from other school divisions in Region 8 who smoke tobacco or cigarettes better be warned: they should kick the habit – at least while living in this city for the week-long duration of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) January 29 - February 4, 2012.

This was made clear by Fernando Salapi, Sports Coordinator of the City Schools Division, Department of Education (DepEd).

Aside from smoking, adult participants of the regional sports meet are also not allowed to be seen in public drinking alcoholic drinks, saying that sports requires discipline, Salapi said during the cable TV program “Action Center” yesterday.

The strict regimen to preserve one’s health was in line with the theme for this year’s EVRAA, which is “School Sports: Foundation to a Healthy Lifestyle”, he added.

Salapi said the ages of participating officials was limited at 55 and below as a matter of policy, to prevent any untoward incident with regards to the health of these delegates.

During the first EVRAA in the city in 2005, one of the officials ended as a fatality after the opening parade, an incident the organizers do not want repeated.

It was learned that some players, coaches and trainers, or staff of visiting delegations do smoke, but once in the city they will be forbidden under pain of being penalized once caught smoking in public places.

The city local government did not tolerate smoking habits by visitors during their stay for certain events, like boy scouts on a jamboree, or any other gathering.  City enforcers and Police personnel were seen issuing citation tickets to strangers who violated the city’s anti-smoking ordinance.

Meanwhile, Salapi also said that officiating officials for this year’s EVRAA will undergo a refresher course from January 25 to 28 so that they will be updated on current rules and regulations, including some policies that must be followed as the games progress.