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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
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JJN 10 P 2 % 6  
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, section 13 states: “The State recognizes the vital role 
of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. xxx” 
The Constitution, Article 2, section 15 provides: “The State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” 
The problem of obesity has affected not only the rich Western countries but also 
the Asian countries that experienced rapid economic and epidemiological transition in the 
past 20 years. The effect of this transition created a situation where overweight and 
obesity became prevalent especially among children. 
Obesity is indeed a global problem that needs to be addressed. Countries have 
developed various strategies and anti-obesity programs to lessen this condition, as well as 
the health hazards associated with it.’ 
This bill seeks to establish a pilot program that requires schools to post nutritional 
content information regarding foods served at schools and to teach students how to make 
healthy food selections. 
’ http://www.fiiri.clost.~ov.ph/index.~hp?option=contentP972, 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
9 JIJN 4G 1’2 1 ‘6 
Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES SCHOOLS TO POST 
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT INFORMATION REGARDING FOODS 
SERVED AT SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title.  this Act shall be known as the “Healthy Food Choices 
for Kids Act of 2009”. 
SECTION 2. DeJinition of Terms. -For purposes of this Act, the term: 
a. “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of the Department of Education; 
b. “Nutritionist-dietitian” refers to any person who meets the educational and 
training requirements to become a licensed nutritionist-dietitian by the 
Professional Regulation Commission; 
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SECTION 3. School Lunch Labeling and Nutritional Awareness Pilot Program. - 
A. In General. - The Secretary shall award grants to not more than 5 regions to 
assist not more than 10 schools in each of such regions in carrying out a pilot program 
that requires schools: 
1. To post nutritional content information in school cafeterias regarding the food 
items served in the cafeterias; and 
2. To teach students about how to make healthy food selections. 
B. Grant Amount. - The Secretary shall ensure that each grant awarded is of 
sufficient size and scope to carry out the pilot program. 
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C. Duration of Grants. - The Secretary may award grants for multiple years to 
regions that meet the grant requirements. 
D. Grant Requirement. - To qualify to receive a grant, a region shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information and assurances as the Secretary may require, including: 
1. An assurance that the region will ensure that each school awarded a subgrant 
meets the pilot program requirements within 1 year of such subgrant award; 
2. A plan to inform all the schools within the region about the pilot program and 
the school application requirements; 
3. An assurance that the region will use not less than 95 percent of the grant 
funds to award subgrants to schools; 
4. An assurance that the region will award such subgrants to at least 3, but not 
more than 5, schools in such region that have in effect a program to provide 
nutritional content information regarding food items served in the cafeterias of 
such schools to students attending such schools; and 
5. An assurance that the region will award such subgrants to at least 3, but not 
more than 5, schools that are located in the rural areas of such region. 
E. Subgrant Requirements. - To qualify to receive a subgrant, a school shall 
submit an application to a region receiving a grant at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such infomiation and assurances as the Secretary may require, including: 
1. A plan for implementing the pilot program, including: 
(i) Efforts to ensure that nutritional content information, including caloric 
information, regarding the food items served in the school’s cafeteria is posted in 
a visible location at the point of decision in the cafeteria and that such information 
is readable and appropriate for the students who attend the school and the parents 
or legal guardians of such students; 
(ii) Efforts to develop and implement, or expand a school wellness 
program or other nutritional awareness program to include an educational 
program to teach students at the school about making healthy food selections; and 
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(iii) Efforts to consult with a licensed nutritionist-dietitian at least once a 
year regarding the pilot program requirements described in clauses (i) and (ii) and 
any related nutritional matters; 
3. A certification of support for participation in the pilot program signed by the 
school food manager, school nurse, school principal, and district 
superintendent (or equivalent positions, as determined by the school); and 
4. Whether the school plans to post the nutritional content information on the 
school’s website. 
F. Guidance; Encouragement. - 
1. Guidance. - The Secretary shall provide guidance to the regions and schools 
receiving grants or subgrants to assist such regions and schools in meeting the 
requirements. 
2. Encouragement. - The Secretary shall encourage schools receiving subgrants to 
post the nutritional content information, including caloric information, regarding food 
items served at the school on the school’s website. 
G. Reports.- 
1. Each region receiving grant funds shall submit a report at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
2. Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this Act and every 2 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committees on Education, Arts and 
Culture, and Agriculture and Food of the House of Representatives and Senate that 
contains: 
(i) The number of schools receiving subgrants; and 
(ii) A detailed description of the status of the pilot program carried out by 
each school, including a list of program accomplishments and challenges, and an 
evaluation of the effectiveness of the program, in each school. 
SECTION 4. Appropriations. 
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The funds needed for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Education. 
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Thereafter, such amount as may be necessarj for its full implementation shall be included 
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in the annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and separate item. 
SECTION 5. Sepavability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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