Davao City, one of the biggest cities in the world by land area (2,444 km2), is a leading example for taking forward the smoke-free agenda in the Philippines. In advance of the 2003 National Tobacco Control Law, and originating from tobacco control measures to strengthen anti-smoking policy promoted by the City Mayor, the City Council passed its Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance in 2002. It has actively promoted and enforced it.

At the national level, the subsequent 2003 Tobacco Regulation Act prohibits smoking in a wide range of public places but is less protective than the Davao City Ordinance, because owners can determine the size and specifications of the smoking and non-smoking areas on their premises.

The Ordinance was amended in 2012, which prohibits smoking of any tobacco product and using electronic cigarettes in the following places:

• All public transportation, government-owned vehicles and other means of public transport within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City;
• All accommodation and entertainment establishments;
• All workplaces;
• All enclosed public places;
• All partially enclosed public places;
• All public buildings;
• All public outdoor spaces.

It discourages people from smoking or using electronic cigarettes anywhere outside the buildings so it allowed business establishments to designate outdoor smoking areas which has to be ten meters away from entrances, exits, and places where people pass. The Task Force inspects the outdoor smoking area and approves it once it has complied with the requirements. Brief advice will be given to smokers who were found smoking in non-smoking areas and fines will be imposed.

The key elements of a Smoke-Free City Campaign include:
S - Smoke-free enclosed places and public outdoor spaces
T - Task Force
O - Organizations
P - Political Will

S - Strategies
M - Mass Media Campaign
O - Outdoor Ads
K - Key messages
I - Implementation / Inspection
N - Never Negotiate with Tobacco Industry
G - Government Support

Davao City implements strategies in combating the tobacco epidemic using the MPOWER approach:
Monitoring tobacco use – conducts survey every 2-3 years;
Protect people from tobacco smoke – intensify monitoring of business establishments;
Offer help to quit – increase the number of community-based smoking cessation counsellors;
Warn about the dangers – increase the number of health educators to conduct lectures in schools, workplaces and communities;
Enforce ban on TAPS – continue to remove big outdoor tobacco advertisements;
Raise taxes – in accordance with national law.

There is some evidence that the intensity of smoking reduced in the city. Traders in the city estimated that cigarette consumption dropped by 30%. A focus group discussion with government employees who smoked revealed that they had reduced the number of cigarettes smoked or had eventually stopped smoking following the implementation of the Ordinance.

Davao City’s smoke-free experience has been recognized by, and become a learning resource for, other cities and countries in the region.