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Hundreds of people were fined as a smoking ban in public places went into force in the Philippines' sprawling capital Friday.
Manila government "environment enforcers" wearing mint-green Polo T-shirts fanned out across the city of 12 million people to start handing out penalties of 500 pesos ($11.50), following a month-long trial period.
"We've given the public one month of warnings. That is enough," Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spokeswoman Christina Velasco told AFP, adding at least 249 people were caught for lighting up in public places on Friday.
Under the new ban, people caught smoking at schools, gyms, parks, hospitals, elevators and stairwells of all buildings, buses and bus depots, restaurants, and government facilities will be hit with the 500-peso fine.
If they fail to pay, they will be ordered to perform eight hours of community service. If they refuse the community service, they could be charged and jailed for up to seven days.
The Philippines has a chaotic brand of democracy, with tough laws on many issues that in theory should ensure an orderly society but in reality are too often flouted.
However the Manila development authority said it was serious about enforcing the smoking ban.
It said on its website that "Environmental Enforcers" would be deployed in teams, made up of two people with the authority to issue the fines, plus a photographer and someone to fill out the documents.
The teams will also be assisted by a "spotter", whose role is to catch the smokers.
Surveys show 28 percent of Filipinos aged 15 years and over, or 17.3 million people, are smokers.
Health advocates have repeatedly called on the chain-smoking President Benigno Aquino to lead the campaign and quit.
But he has rejected becoming a role model, saying smoking is one of few remaining ways to relieve the stress from his job.
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