BAGUIO CITY — The local government here has issued a warning to betel nut chewers in the city to not irresponsibly spit their betel nut residue or “quid” anywhere.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong stressed that barangay officials and cooperative or transport officials should help stop “momma” residue or “quid” spitting in the city.
Magalong said it is very disgusting to see near-permanent red momma residue stains in public areas such as parks, terminal, streets and even church grounds caused by the spitters.
“The issue is not only cleanliness, but health, sanitation and hygiene, and that momma quid could even spread virus,” Magalong said.
He added that as a tourism city, Baguio should be kept clean and green by its own residents.
Resolution 11, Series of 2023 earnestly requested bar owners, pub houses and other entertainment establishments to regularly flush or wash off betel nut sputum and other unsanitary floor stains within their premises.
Meantime, Ordinance 35, series of 2020 regulates the chewing, spitting of betel “quid” or “momma” in public places, and selling of “momma” products to minors in Baguio, imposing penalties for violations.
Magalong said these may be amended for tighter laws against momma quid spitting.
Betel nut chewing is normal and it is part of the culture of not only the Indigenous Peoples but most Filipinos especially in Baguio City, some parts of the Cordillera Region and in some places in the Philippines
In Cordillera, the people call the combination of betel nut, the leaf called “Gawed” and the lime powder to make the spit colored red “momma.” People in other places in the country called it ‘nganga.’