If I Were King............

Back in early October, it was being widely reported that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte would be imposing a nationwide ban on cigarette smoking in public before the end of the month. October has come and gone without the smoking ban.

This month, the Department of Health (DOH) recommended that electronic cigarettes (e-cig) and vapes be included in the public smoking ban. Part of the reasoning behind the ban of cigarette smoking in public has to do with the obvious health issues from second-hand smoke. I don't know if e-cigs have the same issues regarding second-hand smoke, but if second-hand smoke is a serious health concern, the Philippine government should consider banning the outdoor burning of trash and refuse.

Being near a house where outdoor burning is going on is a nuisance - when more than one household is engaged in refuse burning at the same time, it is more than a simple nuisance and borders on a serious health hazard.

Of course, we still haven't seen the cigarette smoking ban yet. Perhaps it's wishful thinking that much will be accomplished.