Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is eyeing to make male public urinals as authorized smoking areas. We all may have been aware by now of the recently-implemented ‘Anti-Smoking Policy’ on all public areas of Metro Manila as a way to lessen air pollution. But as cigarette smoking is still legal in the country, MMDA authorities are trying to find ways to accommodate the needs of the smokers. So far, they have only 20 available public smoking areas and they probably aren’t enough considering the number of smokers in the country. But the thing is, this urinal-smoking area plan only favors the male smokers. What about the female ones? And would the smokers want to smoke in the urinal?
Please forgive me but I really thought it was funny when I saw this on the news last night. I know that the MMDA authorities are exhausting possible ways to lessen air pollution in Metro Manila but I just don’t see this as a good option.
I remember a few years ago, When in Manila, that I used to dread the thought of passing along the Baclaran area because of the reeking smell of MMDA urinals. The stench is too strong that covering my nose with handkerchief doesn’t help at all. I wonder how the men get to do the no.1 on those waterless urinals when I can’t even get myself near them without feeling that I’m gonna have to throw up.
So I guess this is some sort of a positive punishment for the smokers. Yes, you can smoke, but the smell of the urinals would be so repulsive you’d rather drop your cigarette than stay longer on that facility.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said that smoking would help reduce the smell inside the urinals. To each his own but since when did cigarette smoke serve as an air freshener? Lulzy huh.
If the Philippine government really wants to decrease cases of smoking in public, I say increase cigarette tax just like what Obama did to US back in 2009. Wishful thinking, I know.
