Howard I. Macaranas, Office of Aging director and planning and program committee chairman of of month-long celebration of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Awareness-Recovery program, said they also want to see participating establishments to be consistent with their campaign.
Early this month, the SAPTember committee recognized and acknowledged establishments on Saipan that have adopted a smoke-free policy.
Macaranas said the policy allows community members to have alternative places when they want to go out to dine.
“It really promotes the health of family diners,” he said.
There were establishments that adopted the smoke-free policy even before the SAPTember committee launched its recognition endeavor, he said, and some continue to actively implementing the program.
He said the SAPTember committee may continue giving recognition and incentives to encourage the participation of other establishments.
According to Macaranas, the committee will ask the Marianas Visitors Authority to include in their lists of tourist destinations the smoke-free establishment so that visitors will be guided accordingly.
Macaranas is also hoping that the Legislature or the municipal councils recognize smoke-free establishments through the adoption of commemorative resolutions.
“We always like to recognize organizations or groups of people promoting a healthy environment,” he said.
