Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT PROMOTING THE AVAILABILITY OF HEALTHY BEVERAGES TO
CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS BY REGULATING SODA AND OTHER ARTIFICIAL
BEVERAGES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As mandated by the constitution, the state shall protect and promote the right to health of the
people and instill health consciousness among them.1 Article 24 of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child to which the Philippines is a party to provides that every
child has the right “to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities
for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.”2
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is need to reduce daily intake of free
sugar to less than 5% of total energy intake of sugar or roughly 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day.3
Multiple studies have shown the effects of sugar, specifically sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB),
in children. There is high correlation between the intake of SSB and the risk of overweight,
development of dental cavities and lower intake of micronutrients, dietary fibre, vitamin E,
vitamin D, and iron.4
Aside from these health problems, high sugar intake is also linked with behavioral consequences
and impaired cognitive learning.5 Sugar has addictive properties and as a result, withdrawal
symptoms such as craving, irritability and difficulty concentrating are likely to impair learning
especially in schools.
1 Sec 15, Art II, 1987 Constitution
2 Art 24, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
3 World Health Organization, WHO calls on countries to reduce sugars intake among adults and children (4 March
2015) https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/04-03-2015-who-calls-on-countries-to-reduce-sugars-intake-
among-adults-and-children
4 Bestle, S., Christensen, B., Trolle, E., Biltoft-Jensen, A., Matthiessen, J., Gibbons, S., Ersbøll B., Lassen, A., Reducing
Young Schoolchildren’s Intake of Sugar-Rich Food and Drinks: Study Protocol and Intervention Design for “Are You
Too Sweet?” A Multicomponent 3.5-Month Cluster Randomised Family-Based Intervention Study, National Library
of Medicine (21 Dec 2020) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7767356/#B14-ijerph-17-09580
5 Thornley S, Sundborn G,
March 31, 2023
1:05 pm
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In prioritizing health of children, schools can play a crucial role in fostering a generation that
embraces healthier dietary choices. The implementation of a comprehensive ban on sugar-
sweetened beverages in schools, a strategy that has proven successful in other countries, can be a
transformative step towards improving the health of our students. This bill aims to ban the sale of
sugar sweetened beverages, including soft drinks and high sugar fruit juices, in schools providing
basic education. By passing legislation to ban the sale of sugary drinks, we are not only
prioritizing the health and well-being of children but also upholding their fundamental right to a
healthy future.
HON. MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS
Representative, 3rd District of Cotabato


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT PROMOTING THE 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:
Section 1. Short 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 to 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 to 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. — The following beverages shall not be provided or sold in
schools
1. Soft drinks, sports drinks, punches and iced teas;
2. Fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 per cent real fruit juice or that contain
additional sweeteners; and
Provided, that these prohibitions will also apply to vending machines within schools and to
all establishments within a radius of 100 meters from the boundaries of all schools covered by
this Act
Section 5. Allowed Beverages. — The following beverages shall be sold at schools:
1. Fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50 percent real fruit juice and that do not
contain additional sweeteners;
2. Water and seltzer;
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3. Low-fat or fat-free milk, including but not limited to, chocolate milk, soy milk, rice
milk and other similar dairy or non-dairy calcium fortified milks
Section 6. 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 99 and 100 of Republic
Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the “Local Government Act of 1991.”
Section 7. Duty to 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 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — 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.
Section 9. Penalties. – The owner or operator of schools, restaurants, or establishment
found violating this Act for selling prohibited beverages under Section 4 hereof to students
within school premises and within 100 meters radius from any public or private elementary or
high school shall be fined one hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00) for every violation.
Provided, that in case the owner or operator is a partnership, association, corporation, or
any other juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed on the president, manager or the most
senior officer of the school, restaurant, or establishment.
Section 10. Repealing Clause. –Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provision of this Act is
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,