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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS: REGISTRATION UNIT
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. A161

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MARIA LOURDES ACOSTA-ALBA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Constitution, in Article II, Sections 13 and 15 provide:
“Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building
and shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and socio well-
being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage
their involvement in public and civic affairs.

Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people
and instill health consciousness among them.”

Academie studies have shown that there is nothing healthy about carbonated soft drinks or
soda.' Soft drinks contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, phosphorus and carbon acids which
have harmful effects on the body.* There is a continuous stream of scientific studies that show the
health risks of soda intake.

Soda consumption is associated with increased fracture risk due to reduced bone mass, * Soft
drink intake also increases the incidence of dental caries or tooth decay and obesity especially
among adolescents and young adults,s Phosphorus, high fructose corn syrup, caffeine and the
carbon acids impair the body’s capacity to absorb calcium. Soft drink consumption of children is
linked to insufficient calcium in the body, impaired calcification of growing bones, and increased
risk of bone fracture.s The high levels of caffeine in soft drinks could “disrupt sleep and lead to
anxiety and DNA damage and hyperactivity, especially among children.”6

Mahmood M. Saleh A, ALalawi f & Ahmed F. “Health Effects of Soda Drinking in Adolescent Gils in the United Arab
Emirates. “Journal of Critical Care 23(3)(2008): 434-440, Print

2 Sassaftas. * The Effects of Soda in your Body." Living Healthy 360. Helium Publishing. 4 Nov, 2007, Web. 26 Jan 2014
> Wyshak, Grace et al. “ Nonaleoholic Carbonated Beverage Consumption and Bone Fractures Among Women Former
College Athletes”. Journal of Orthopedic Research 7(1)(1989}: 91-99. Print

Nestle, Marion, “Soft Drink “Pouring Rights”: Marketing Empty Calories ( Children”, Prblie Health Reports
115(4)(2000): 308-319. Print

4 Prentice, Ann etal. “Symposium on ‘Nutrition and Health in Children and Adolescents” Session 1: Nutrition in Growth
und Development,” Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 65(4)(2006):348-360. Print

‘Chua, Philip S. “Liquid Candy”; Unhealthy.” Philippine Daily Inguirer 10 Dec. 2009: n. pag. Inquirer Net, Web. 26 Jan,
2014.

HOUSE %F REPRESENTATIVES

BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE


The World Health Organization recognized that consumption of soft drinks contributes to the
growing incidence of obesity. Soft drinks also increases the risk for heart disease.s

Recent studies associate soft drink consumption by young children with aggression, attention
problems, and withdrawal behavior.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found an association between higher risk of the
colorectal cancer and eating “high-energy snack foods” (snack foods high in sugar and fat) and
high-energy drinks (including sodas and other sugary beverages). Their findings are published in the
European Journal of Cancer Prevention. 10

According to a 2010 study in Diabetes Care,11 drinking one to two sugary drinks per day
increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 26 percent, compared with having less than one serving a
month,

Drinking just one can of soda a day inereases the risk of developing diabetes by more than a
filth, according to a European study, Using data from 350,000 people in eight European countries,
researchers found that every extra 12 fluid ounce (340 ml) serving of sugar-sweetened drink raises
the risk of diabetes by 22 percent compared with drinking just one ean a month or less.

These trends have also been detected in the Philippines. A study involving children aged 6-12
years old in [.a Trinidad, Benguet shows the prevalence of dental caries and high consumption of
sugar. Soft drinks are one of the most common sources of dietary sugar (84%).12 The 1998 National
Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey reported the prevalence of dental caries among cl
was 91.7% 13

aged 12 years

Dr. Tim Gill, the Regional Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific International Obesity Taskforce of
Australia revealed that in the Philippines, 1% of young children (0-10 years) and 3% of adolescents
(11-17 years) were overweight. Overweight children are more likely to develop health problems and
their complications, The greater the weight excess-the higher a child’s body mass index (BMI)-the
greater the risk of acquiring the so-called metabolic syndrome early in life, which includes type 2
diabetes, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. Obesity, in both children and
adults, is a significant health danger.

The risk factors that characterize this syndrome are elevated triglycerides (bloodfats), blood
sugar, and blood pressure, low HDL (High Density Lipoproteins, the good cholesterol), and

7 World Health Organization. “Diet, Nutrition and Prevention of Chronic Diseases.” WHO Fechnical Report Series
(2008): 148. Print

Chua, Philip S. “Liquid Candy”; Unhealthy.” Philippine Daily Inquirer 0 Dee. 2009: n, pag. Inquirer Net. Web, 26 Tan,
2014.

» Suglia, Shakira et al, “Soft Drink Consumption is Associated with Behavior Problems in S-year Olds.” The Journal of
Pediatrics 163(S\(2013): 1323-1328, Print

1 Theodoratou, Livropi fal, “Associations Between Dietary and Lifestyle Risk Factors and Colorectal Cancer in the
Scottish Population.” Ewropean Journal of Cancer Prevention 23(2014)'8-17. Print.

1 Malik, Vasanti ct al, "Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes
Care 33(2010):2477-2483. Print

12 Yabao, R, N. etal, “prevalence of Dental Caries and Sugar Consumption Among 6-12-y-old Schoolchildren in La
Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 59(12)2005): 1429-1438. Print

1s Philippines, Department of Health, National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey, DOH, Manila: 1998. Print.

Diabetes



abdominal obesity, These precede the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

‘The Manila Doctors Hospital warns that in the Philippines, studies on obesity reveal that the
prevalence rate of obesity among Children was at 4.9% in 2003, Overweight children aged 0-5
years rose from 0.4% to 1.4%. The prevalence rate of overweight children aged 6-10 years was
almost negligible in 1998 but increased to 1.3% in 2003. The results of a survey conducted by the
Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology
revealed that in 1989, the prevalence rate of obesity among Filipino children was at 5.7%, In 1993 it

increased to 8.8%

Its the responsibility of the State to protect our children from exposure to harmful substance,
The sale of beverages that pose serious health risks can be curbed under the State’s police power

Passage of this bill is urgently requested.

MARIA LOURDES ACOSTA-ALBA.
First District, Bukidnon

~The Manila Doctors Hospital, “More Obese Filipinos Due 10 Soeial Media, Fast-food Meals.” Interaksyon 15 Nov. 2013

pag, Web. 26 Jan. 2014


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1161

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MARIA LOURDES ACOSTA-ALBA

AN ACT
PROMOTIN AVAILABILITY OF HEALTHY BEVERAGES TO CHILDREN
IN SCHOOLS BY REGULATING SODA AND OTHER ARTIFICIAL BEVERAGES,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,

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

ECTION 1, Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Healthy Beverage Options
Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is hereby declared a policy of the State to
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them, Pursuant to this, the State shall actively promote the health of children and to take
necessary steps {o prevent serious health risks that can be brought on by the consumption of
unhealthy beverages. Further, the state shall ensure that children are provided with healthy
choices when purchasing beverages in schools and shall regulate the sale of beverages
achieve this goal

SECTION 3. Coverage ~ This Act shall apply to all persons, institutions, and entities
in the Philippines, whether public or private, which provide, in whole or in part, basic
education as defined under Republic Act No. 10533, otherwise known as the “Enhanced
Basic Education Act of 2013."

SECTION 4. Prohibitions ~ a) The following beverages shall not be provided or sold
in schools:

1, Soft diinks, sports drinks, punches, and iced teas;

2. Eruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 per cent real fruit juice or that contain
additional sweeteners; and

3. Drinks containing caffeine, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.

b) The following beverages shall be sold at schools:


1, Fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50 per cent fruit juice and not contain
additional sweeteners;

2. Water and seltzer; and

3. Low-fat or fat-free milk, iricluding, but not limited to, chocolate milk, soy milk,
rice milk, and other similar dairy or non-dairy calcium-fortified milks.

Provided, that these prohibitions will also apply to a radius of 100 meters from the
boundaries of all schools covered by this Act.

SECTION 5. Duty to provide potable water, — Schools covered by this Act shall
make free potable water available for all school personnel, staff, and students. Local school
boards shall include the costs for providing potable water consistently with Sections 99and
100 of Republic Act No, 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991.”

SECTION 6. Duty 10 educate students on healthy food choices. ~ All schools shall
have the duty to incorporate into their curriculum lessons on the effects of the consumption of
unhealthy foods and drinks, including the effects of sugar in the human body.

SECTION 7. Implementation. ~ The Department of education in consultation with
the Department of Health shall formulate and promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity. The Department of
Education shall implement this Act and conduct periodic reviews of compliance by schools.

SI ON 8. Penalties. — Schools and restaurants found violating of this Act shall be
fined one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000,00) for every violation.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders and issuances,
and rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. ~ If for any reason, any portion or provision of
this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, all other parts or provisions not affected
shall continue to remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Efeetivity, ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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