Manila, March 30 -- The city government will no longer allow the practice of indiscriminate spitting in public after chewing betel nut, locally known as "moma".
The city council early this month passed the anti-moma ordinance, which prohibits chewing and spitting of betel quid in public places and selling of moma products to minors to maintain cleanliness and discipline in the city.
The latest ordinance was passed following a recommendation from the city council research division for the updating of a 1980s ordinance that regulates spitting moma.
Councilor Joel Alangsab, who authored the ordinance, said the law does not prohibit chewing of betel nut even in public places due to a cultural practice attached to it but aimed to regulate ind...