WHILE recognizing an individual’s right to chew moma (betel nut), Tablay municipal officials ordered the regulation of indiscriminate spitting of the betel nut cud to maintain sanitation in the town.
The Municipal Council passed an ordinance mandating every moma chewer to bring with him a container where he could spew his discharges.
The indiscriminate spitting of moma, officials said, dirties the environment, invites air and soil borne diseases and causes eyesore, thus the need to regulate the activity.
“The right of any individual to indulge in chewing moma must be subordinated to the fundamental right of every community member to a clean and healthy environment, thus the need to legislate for the proper disposal of moma refuses and prohibit the indiscriminate spitting of moma particles especially in public places,” the ordinance said.
Moma is a combination of betel nut, lime, tobacco and other ingredients, which when chewed produce reddish spittle.
The local government wants every person chewing moma to bring with them a container where they could spit for purposes of sanitation.
In the absence of a container or spittoon as the ordinance required, the moma chewer is obliged to spit on any available receptacle.
Violators will be penalized not exceeding P2,500 or an imprisonment of not less than six months, or both upon the discretion of the court.
Ifugao, one of the provinces where moma chewing is rampant, and Bontoc in Mountain Province have passed ordinances regulating the spitting of the betel nut refuse for sanitary reasons. (JC)-sunstar baguio
