Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Que3on City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2773

Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G.
Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez, Yedda Marie K.
Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Poor nutrition among Filipino schoolchildren remains a pressing
public health concern, contributing to g rates of obesity, malnutrition,
and preventable diseases. Despite existing school feeding programs,
unhealthy food options remain widely available in and around schools.

This bill seeks to institutionalize healthy food policies in all basic
education institutions by regulating the sale, marketing, and provision of
food and beverages in school premises. It aims to promote proper
nutrition, instill lifelong healthy eating habits, and align school practices
with the goals of DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2017 and national health
priorities.

This is one of the bills proposed during the first Eastern Visayas
Young Leaders Parliament held on December 11-15, 2024.

Immediate passage of this measure is urged to safeguard the health
and well-being of Filipino learners.


FERDINAND IN (ho EDDAWMARIE K, ROMUALDEZ

ANDREW JULIAN K. ROMUALDEZ JUDE/A. ACIDRE


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _2773

Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G.
Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez, Yedda Marie K.
Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE SALE, DISTRIBUTION, PROMOTION, OR
ADVERTISEMENT OF UNHEALTHY FOODS AND SUGAR-
SWEETENED BEVERAGES IN, AND WITHIN ONE HUNDRED (100)
METERS FROM, ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BASIC EDUCATION
SCHOOLS, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title — This Act shall be known as the “Healthy Schools
Food Environment Act”

Section 2. Declaration of State Policy —The State recognizes the
need to address childhood obesity and other diet-related health risks by
restricting the exposure and access of children to unhealthy food and
beverages in and around educational institutions. It is hereby declared the
policy of the State to protect the health and well-being of children by
promoting healthy food environments in schools.


Section 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all public and private
basic education institutions, including daycare centers, kindergartens,
elementary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools
operating under the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd),
local government units (LGUs), or duly recognized private educational
institutions.

Moreover, the prohibitions under this Act shall cover all areas within
school premises, including classrooms, canteens, school grounds,
auditoriums, gymnasiums, libraries, administrative offices, and any space
where students have regular access.

Section 4. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the
following terms shall be defined as follows:

a) Basic Education Institutions refer to public and private schools
offering any level of basic education, including daycare centers,
kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, and senior
high schools, whether operated by the Department of Education
(DepEd), local government units (LGUs), or duly recognized private
educational institutions.

b) School Premises include all areas within the physical boundaries of
a basic education institution, such as classrooms, canteens, school
grounds, gymnasiums, libraries, administrative offices, hallways,
and any space regularly accessed by students.

c) Buffer Zone refers to the area covering a one hundred (100)-meter
radius measured outward from the boundary of the school premises,
including adjacent sidewalks, streets, alleys, and commercial or
residential establishments located within this distance.

d) Unhealthy Food refers to any food or beverage product determined
by the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Food
and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), as high in saturated fat,
trans fat, sodium, or added sugar, and low in essential nutrients,
based on an evidence-based nutrient profiling system.

e) Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) refer to non-alcoholic
beverages with added caloric sweeteners, including but not limited
to sweetened soft drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks, sweetened teas
and coffees, flavored water, and other similar products.

f) Sale, Distribution, Promotion, or Advertisement refers to any activity
involving the commercial offering of goods, giving away of free

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samples, marketing, brand visibility, sponsorships, endorsements,
signage placement, or use of digital or printed media to encourage
the purchase or consumption of unhealthy food or sugar-sweetened
beverages.

g) School-Sanctioned Activities refer to events, programs, or functions
Officially organized, endorsed, or required by the school, whether
conducted within or outside school premises, in which students are
expected or mandated to participate.

Section 5. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts shall be prohibited
within all basic education institutions and their 100-meter buffer zones as
defined in this Act:

1) The selling, vending, giving away, or provision of unhealthy food and
sugar-sweetened beverages to students, school personnel, or
visitors within school premises or within 100 meters from the school
boundary, regardless of whether the activity is for profit or not.

2) The advertising, marketing, sponsorship, or promotion of unhealthy
food and sugar-sweetened beverages within schools and their
buffer zones through:

a. Printed or digital materials;

b. Sponsored events or programs;

c. Branded educational materials or giveaways;

d. Audio or visual broadcasts and social media promotions
directly targeting students.

3) Schools shall not enter into any partnership, agreement, or
sponsorship with manufacturers or sellers of unhealthy food or
SSBs for the conduct of school programs, events, contests,
scholarships, or infrastructure donations that serve to advertise or
promote their products.

4) Use of brand logos, mascots, slogans, packaging, or likenesses
associated with unhealthy food or beverage products in any form of
school merchandise, uniforms, school materials, or campus
signage.

5) Placing vending machines, kiosks, stalls, carts, or any sales outlet
offering prohibited food and beverages inside school grounds or
within the 100-meter buffer zone.


6) The serving, distribution, or endorsement of unhealthy food and
beverages during school-sponsored events, field trips, or off-
campus activities where participation is required by the school.

Section 6. Nutrient Profiling System. - The Department of Education
(DepEd), in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and Food
and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), shall regularly update a
categorized list of food and beverages using a nutrient profiling system,
including:

a) Green list or those foods encouraged for sale and consumption;
b) Yellow list or those foods to be served occasionally;
c) Red list or those foods strictly prohibited under this Act.

Only Green and Yellow list items may be allowed for sale or distribution
within school premises, subject to guidelines issued by DepEd and DOH.

Section 7. Monitoring, Compliance, and Enforcement. — The
Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Department of
Health (DOH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and local
government units (LGUs), shall be primarily responsible for monitoring
and enforcing compliance with the restrictions on the sale, distribution,
advertisement, and promotion of unhealthy food and sugar-sweetened
beverages within all basic education institutions and their one hundred
(100)-meter buffer zones.

Each school shall designate a School Food Environment
Compliance Officer who shall be tasked to monitor on-campus food
offerings, inspect canteens and school-based food providers, and submit
periodic compliance reports to the Schools Division Office.

The DepEd, together with the DOH and the Food and Nutrition
Research Institute (FNRI), shall maintain and regularly update a nutrient
profiling system categorizing food items into Green (health-promoting),
Yellow (to be consumed occasionally), and Red (strictly prohibited) lists.
Only Green and Yellow list items may be sold or served within the defined
areas.

LGUs, through their health and business licensing offices and in
coordination with the barangays, shall assist in monitoring vendors within
the buffer zones and ensure their compliance. Furthermore, Local


Government Units are encouraged to enact ordinance to compliment the
implementation of this Act in their respective territory.

Section 8. Role of Local School Boards. - The Local School
Board, as provided in Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the
“Local Government Code of 1991”, they shall perform the following roles:

a) Ensure that the objectives of this Act are reflected in the Local
Education Development Plans (LEDPs), School Improvement Plans
(SIPs), and relevant local ordinances or resolutions;

b) May allocate appropriate funding from the Special Education Fund
(SEF) to support school-based and community-aligned health
promotion programs, teacher and vendor training, and inspection
activities;

c) Work closely with the LGU’s permitting offices and barangay
councils to monitor, regulate, and, where necessary, restrict the
operations of vendors within the 100-meter school buffer zones;

d) Receive and address reports of violations of this Act, and ensure
that schools and vendors found in breach are subject to appropriate
actions in accordance with DepEd and LGU enforcement
procedures; and

e) Promote cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure that all local efforts
align with national standards and guidelines for healthy school
environments;

f) Perform such other roles as may be prescribed by the implementing
rules and regulations and/or related resolutions.

Section 9. Penalties and Sanctions. - To ensure the faithful

implementation of this Act, the following penalties shall be imposed on
individuals or institutions found to be in violation of its provisions:

a. For School Canteens and In-School Vendors:

First Offense: Written warning and mandatory attendance in a
nutrition compliance seminar conducted by the Schools Division
Office and local health authorities.

Second Offense: Suspension of canteen operations or vendor
access for up to fifteen (15) school days.


Third and Subsequent Offenses: Revocation of canteen
concession or vendor permit, and disqualification from reapplication
for one (1) school year.

b. For External Vendors within the 100-Meter School Buffer
Zone:

First Offense: Issuance of a notice of violation by the barangay
or municipal enforcement team and a fine of not less than One
Thousand Pesos (?1,000.00).

Second Offense: Confiscation of non-compliant food items
and a fine of not less than Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00).

Third Offense: Revocation or non-renewal of business permit
and prohibition from operating within the vicinity of any school for
one (1) year.

c. For School Heads or Officials Who Willfully Fail to Enforce
the Act:

First Verified Complaint: Written reprimand and submission of
a corrective action plan within fifteen (15) days.

Second Verified Complaint: Administrative sanctions in
accordance with Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules, which may
include suspension of up to thirty (30) days.

Third Verified Complaint: Recommendation for reassignment
or replacement, subject to due process.

d. For Local Government Units That Neglect Enforcement
Duties. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
upon verified complaint and after due investigation, may issue a Show-
Cause Order to the concerned LGU official. Continued non-compliance
may result in the withholding of certain local government performance-
based grants or awards.

Section 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within 60 days
from effectivity of this Act, DepEd, in coordination with DOH, FNRI, and
other stakeholders, shall formulate and issue the IRR to operationalize
this Act.

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Section 11. Appropriation. - This section mandates that funding for
the initial and continued implementation of the Act be drawn from the
current and succeeding appropriations of DepEd and DOH, to be included
in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Section 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected
shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 8. Repealing Clause.- All laws, presidential decrees,
executive orders, letters of instruction, proclamations or administrative
regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 9. Effectivity. - Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the
implementing rules and regulations, this Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
general circulation.

Approved,