Smoking fines go to help children with cancer

Fines collected from people caught breaking the anti-smoking ordinance in force in Davao City, the Philippines, have been given to a halfway house in Mindanao that provides for children suffering from cancer, according to a story in the Manila Bulletin.

After seeking the approval of the city council, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte turned over to the House of Hope P3.2 million, the income from two years of fines.

The House of Hope, a project of the Waling-Waling Rotary Club of Davao City, serves as a temporary home for children from around Mindanao who have cancer but who have nowhere to stay in the City.

Headed by Dr. Mae Dolendo, the facility also provides counseling services for the children and their parents.

Dolendo said Duterte spent his birthday and Christmas Day with the children and personally bought toys for them.