Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Introduced by CHRISTOPHER S. CO and RODEL M. BATOCABE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a nationwide anti-obesity campaign for the control and prevention of
‘obesity among the Filipino people

Research has established that healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and phy sical activity
can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases. An increased consumption of highly
calorific foods, without an equal increase in physical activity leads to an unhealthy increase in weight
Decreased levels of physical activity will also result in an energy imbalance and lead to weight gain

However, even with the end toward physical fitness and exercise, more than | 4 billion have been
recorded in 2008 as overweight, and more than 500 million were obese At least 2 ¥ million people die each
year as a result of being overweight or obese The prevalence of obesity has nearly doubled in the recent
years

More alarming is the growing number of obese children. Childhood obesity 1s one of the most
serious public health challenges of the 21st century Overweight children are likely to become obese adults
They are more likely than non-overweight children to develop diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a
younger age, which in tum are associated with a higher chance of premature death and disability

Sixty-five percent (65%) of the world's population live in a country where overweight and obesity
kills more people than underweight. This includes all high-income and middle-income countries Globally
44% of diabetes, 23% of ischaemic heart disease and 7-41% of certain cancers are attributable to overweight
and obesits

Individual responsibilnxy can only have us full effect where people have access to a healthy hiiestyle
and are supported to make healthy choices. Social and economic development as well as policies 1n the areas
of agriculuse, transport, urban planning. environment, education. food processing, distribution and
marketing influence children’s dietary habits and preferences as well as their physical activity pattems
Increasingly. these influences are promoting unhealthy weight gain leading 1o a steady rise in the prevalence
of childhood obesity It is high time that the State see obesity as a societal problem among Filipinos and take
proactive steps ift battling his disease

RDDEL M. BATOCABE



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 731

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF OBESITY AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled
Section 1. Title - This Act shail be known as the "Anu-Obesity Act of 2013”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy - I 1s the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the nght wo
health of the people Towards this end, a system for the control and prevention of obesity among citizens
shall be provided and the need for a responsible diet established.

Section 3. Obesity. For the purposes of this Act. obesity shall refer to an excess proportion of total body fat.
usually diagnosed so when a person's weight is al feast twenty percent (20%) more than his or her normal or
ideal weight. It is usually measured in body mass index (BMI), and 1s affected by. but not limited to, age
gender, gencues, environmental factors. physical activity . psychological factors. illness. and medication

Section 4. National Anti-Obesity Campaign. - It 1s hereby mandated that there shall be a Nauonal Anu-
Obesity Prevention and Control Program be implemented by a multi-agency /multi-sectoral commitice
chaired the Department of Health The program shall be a mulu-agency effort in controlling and preventing
obesity in the country Among its component activites mclude (1) encouragement of awareness and
prevention programs, (2) provision of consultauon at the nearest health centers. and (3) conduct of
mformauion and education campaign on the prevention and control of obesity The program shall be
implemented by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Education (DepEd), as well as
Local Government Units (LGUs) with the assistance of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and
People’s Organizations (POs)

Sec
jointly i

. Responsibilities of Government Agencies - The following government agencies. which shall
plement the National Anti-Obesity Prevention and Control Program. shall be tasked to

A. Department of Health:

(1) Sumulate the development, improvement and of
interventions to improve our understanding of obesity, its causes and us eflects

(2) Design projects and studies to help identify ways to better describe the umpact of obesity and
reduce medical complications,

(3) Coordinate with the DepEd in the development of appropriate health education strategy to
inform the public on obesity’ prevention and control

(4) Encourage collaborative activities with the DOST. DepEd, DILG. NGOs, POs and other
concerned sectors,

es and

strate

B. Barangays and other LGUs. - All Local Government Units shall be required to
(1) Allocate funds to support the implementation of the National Anti-Obesity Prevention and
Control Program within their locality, and


(2) Enact additional local ordinances that will support the National Anti-Obesity Prevention and
Control Program and initiate programs in which should include awareness campaign and other
preventive measures.

‘The DILG shall ensure compliance of these responsibilities by the LGUs.

C. Department of Education
(1) Swengthen anti-obesity education program through schoo! health teaching/curriculum,
(2) Encourage collaborative activ ities and information-sharing with the DOH, DILG, DENR, NGOs,
POs and other concerned sectors.
(3) Integrate proper information and edi
School levels, and
(4) Implement other preventive actions that the Department of Health may provide

ion in the relevant subjects in the Elementary and High

Section 6. Assistance of NGOs and the Academe. - The agencies tasked to umplement the anti-obesity
program shall seek the assistance and participation of NGOs in any of the following acuvities

(1) Community mobilization:

(2) Health education/information dissemination

(3) Mass anti-obesity campaign

(4) Promotion of the anti-obesity campaign

(5) Surveillance/reporung of obesity cases; and

(6) Any other activins geared towards the prevention of obesity

Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health, in coordination with the
DILG, DepEd, NGOs and POs shall issue the necessary rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the
effetivity of this Act

Section 8 Appropriations - The amount of One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000 00) necessary to
implement the provisions of this Act shall be intially charged against the appropriations of the DOH. DILG
and DepEd under the General Appropriations Act. For the LGUs, the requirements shall be taken from thes
Internal Revenue Alloument and other local funds Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its
continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

Sectiva 9. Separability Clause - In case any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the other
provisions shai) remain in full force and effect

Section 10. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afier its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation. whichever comes earlier

Approved