Enhanced University No Smoking Policy (Memo U2122-016)

Memo to        :           All Employees

Subject           :          Enhanced University No Smoking Policy

The Commission on Higher Education recently issued Memorandum Order (CMO) # 6 series of 2021, “Policy and Guidelines on Anti-Smoking and Tobacco Control”.  We will not need to adopt any new policies in light of CMO #6, as we have been substantially in compliance with its provisions since 2017, when we put various policies in place to comply with Republic Act 9211, Executive Order No. 26 series of 2017, and Department of Health Administrative Order 2019-0007.   We would like to simply remind the community of said policies governing the use and sale of all tobacco and non-tobacco cigarette products, including electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS), commonly known as e-cigarettes, vapes, vape pens, Juul, hooka smoking, and the like, and enjoin all concerned to assist in the strict implementation of these. 

In brief:

1. Smoking is totally banned within any of our university’s campuses, whether inside or outside buildings and parked vehicles.  This ban covers all employees, visitors and clients of affiliates, auxiliary units, and tenants of the university operating within our campus.
2. The sale and distribution of all cigarette products and smoking devices is banned within our university’s campuses.  
3. Tobacco companies and/or companies/persons/entities that aim to promote a brand of tobacco or ENDS/ENNDS products are disallowed from distributing promotional items or conducting product sampling at, and/or sponsoring any form of activities on campus, including but not limited to cultural, educational, musical, and sports activities.  This ban extends to off-campus activities of groups and organizations affiliated with the Ateneo.
4. All members of the community are enjoined to report all attempted interventions of the tobacco industry and their representatives, to disclose interests in the tobacco industry, and to refuse or reject any offers or contributions from the tobacco industry.

The Total Ban on Smoking covers everyone inside the campuses, including employees, students, visitors, suppliers, contractors, and guests of the university, its affiliates, its auxiliary units and its tenants. Appropriate disciplinary action, in accordance with existing guidelines and due process as stipulated in the Student Handbook and the Employee Code of Discipline, will be meted out to violators of this policy. All visitors, suppliers, contractors, and couriers inside the Ateneo campuses who violate these policies should be referred to the Campus Safety and Mobility Office.

For your information and strict compliance.