The proposed ban on smoking and drinking put forward by the country's president elect Rodrigo Duterte, is worrying operators in the Philippines.

Smoking exception sought Source: Wikipedia

They are to meet with the country’s chief executive later this month to express their worries and seek an exemption.

Duterte is currently mayor of Davao and will take over as President on June 30. As mayor of Davao, he has imposed a limited ban on smoking and drinking in public places. Currently, smoking and drinking in commercial locations is permitted only in designated areas of the city and sale of the same commodities is not permitted between 1am and 8am.

He wants to extend these restrictions right across the country, but Kingson Sian, CEO of Travellers International Hotels, which was behind the first casino resort in the country, Resorts World Manila, has expressed doubts that Duterte will carry out the threat. He said that the incoming President will probably realise the importance of the casino industry to the country’s economy.

Sian told local media that he expected the industry to come to an accommodation with the new regime, which would be concerned if a large number of gaming clients sought alternative gambling. The Philippines currently has three major casino resorts and a number of government-owned regional casinos.