TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta – Hasto Wardoyo, the regent of Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, claimed that his effort to sterilize several spots in his regency from cigarettes had come to fruition.

“The evaluation results are still in the form of quantitative data revealing the number of areas free from cigarette smoke,” Hasto said at Hotel Cavinton, Yogyakarta, on Thursday, May 21, 2015.

Hasto said that his office had yet to receive reports on health improvement since the Smoke-Free Zone policy kicked off in June 2014. In addition, the evaluation of the social and economic conditions in the regency had not been reviewed yet.

According to Hasto, 66 percent of Kulon Progo residents have given up smoking. In addition, Hasto claimed that the government had managed to keep 55 percent of 570 schools and 77 percent of 1,300 houses of worship away from cigarette smoke.

“We will continue to evaluate the results. We should see the implementation of the policy at least within a year,” Hasto said.

Earlier, Hasto issued regional regulation Number 5/2014 on Smoke-Free Zone (KTR) banning any forms of cooperation between the regency administration and cigarette companies. Hasto said no more banners or billboards could advertise cigarettes in Kulon Progo.

MITRA TARIGAN