Anti-moma rule enforcement in Baguio pushed

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council urged strict compliance of local folks and visitors to an ordinance banning chewing of “moma” or betel quid and spitting in public places.
    Ordinance 35-2020 defined public places as accessible to the public or those that are for collective use regardless of ownership or right to access including but not limited to schools, workplaces, government facilities, establishments that provide food and drinks, accommodation, merchandise, professional services, entertainment, or other services, outdoor spaces, public transport, and terminals. 
    In her resolution unanimously approved by the city council February, Councilor Lilia Farinas said unsanitary practice of moma-chewing and spitting in public places still persists as evidenced by the “red-orange” stains on roads and pavements despite prohibition against the said practice which she described as unsanitary, unhealthy and unethical.
    “The practice of chewing and spitting of moma in public places is not only very unsanitary, unhealthy and unethical, but it is even escalated by the fact that Covid-19 and its numerous variants are still present in the society which is a guaranteed spreader of the virus and very likely of other communicable diseases as well,” Farinas said.
    The resolution calls mandated “activation” of the Task Force Moma to strictly enforce the provisions of the ordinance.
    The said task force was created pursuant to the ordinance.
    Other prohibited acts enumerated in the ordinance are the following: 
    Chewing and/or spitting betel quid inside a public utility vehicle whether moving or stationary; chewing and/or spitting betel quid in plain view while inside a private place or on the road without the required spittoon or container for spit; leaving/throwing a used spittoon or draining its content in public places, canals, and rivers; and selling “moma” to minors.
    Any person who commits any of those stipulated prohibitions under this ordinance will be fined P500.00 or will render four hours of community service for the first offense; P1, 000.00 or six hours of community service for the second offense; and P2, 000.00 or eight hours of community service for the third and subsequent offenses. 
    The revised ordinance, however, stipulates that chewing and spitting ‘moma’ will not be prohibited in public places during “indigenous people’s gatherings” provided that every “moma” chewer attending the gathering uses a spittoon that is not transparent. To maintain cleanliness in the place, “moma” chewers should not empty, drain, or scatter the spittle or the content of the spittoon nor should they throw, dump, or leave their used spittoon in the venue of the gathering.
    The ordinance further mandates persons-in-charge to “prominently” post and display a signage “No Chewing and/or Spitting Moma” in a location where it is most visible to the public. 
    Persons-in-charge are presidents, managers, administrators, owners, operators, drivers, etc. of companies, institutions, establishments, and vehicles.