Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Administrative Order No. 2014-0030 of the Department of Health mandated 
the placement of nutritional information and caloric intake on certain products. The 
exemption, however, only applies to establishments and restaurants serving food. 
With the State guaranteeing that it will, “Protect and promote the right to health 
of the people and instill health consciousness among them,” the measure seeks to 
make food establishments disclose the nutritional information and caloric content of 
their food and beverages on their menu.  
In the 18th Congress, this bill was filed by Representatives Ria Fariñas and 
Rudys Fariñas I. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
August 30, 2022
8:02 am
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 Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
AN ACT  
MANDATING FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS TO DISPLAY THE NUTRITION 
FACTS AND INFORMATION ON THEIR MENUS 
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 “Mandatory Menu Labeling 
Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right of the people to good health, and instill health consciousness 
among them. The State recognizes that food intake is crucial to the promotion of this 
policy and that there is a need to keep the consumers informed of nutritional 
composition of commercially sold food by food service establishments in order to 
encourage healthier food choices. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — Definition of Terms. -— As used in this Act: 
(a) Food service establishment refers to an entity that is one of at least twenty (20) entities
or more doing business under the same name, regardless of its type of ownership,
and selling substantially the same menu items in standard portions. It shall include,
but not limited to, chain restaurants, chain coffee shops, bakeries, self-service food
locations, such as buffets and salad bars, convenience stores.
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(b) Food items refer to ready-to-eat and prepared food or beverage for sale in a 
restaurant or food service establishment: 
(c) Food-on-display refers to food offered for sale that is visible to a customer before 
making a selection, and needs no further preparation before consumption; 
(d) Standard menu item refers to any individual food item or combination of food items 
that is routinely listed on a menu or menu board, or routinely offered for sale by a 
restaurant or fast food chain establishment:  
(e) Menu refers to a printed list of food items and their prices posted in a fast food 
chain or restaurant as defined in this Act, including fliers for distribution; 
(f) Menu board refers to any pictorial display of food items and their prices posted in 
a fast food chain or restaurant as defined in this Act, including those found in drive-
thrus; 
(g) Nutritional and calorie information refers to the total number of calories and 
nutritional information, which shall be displayed in kilocalories of each menu item 
on menu and menu boards; 
(h) Self-service food refers to food and beverage that consumers may help themselves 
to, including food offered for sale at a salad bar, buffet line, cafeteria line; and 
(i) Standard menu item refers to food or beverage items offered for sale by a food 
facility through a menu or menu board. 
SECTION 4. Disclosure of Number of Calories. - All food service establishments, as 
defined under this Act, are hereby mandated to disclose the total number of calories 
of each standard menu item and prominently display these on their menus and menu 
boards, adjacent to the standard menu item.  
Disclosure and display of nutrition information shall not apply to temporary menu 
items. 
SECTION 5. Calorie Content. - The disclosure of nutrition content information by 
food establishments, as required in the preceding section, shall indicate the calories 
contained in a standard menu item to the nearest five-calorie increment up to and 
including fifty (50) calories, to the nearest ten-calorie increment above fifty (50) 


 
calories. For food with fewer than five (5) calories, the declaration may be expressed 
as zero (0). 
SECTION 6. Nutrition Disclosure Compliance Certificate. - Within six (6) months 
from the effectivity of this Act, food service establishments are also directed to apply 
for and secure a Nutrition Disclosure Compliance Certificate (NDCC) from the 
Department of Health (DOH). The NDCC issued by the DOH shall be valid for two 
(2) years from the date of issuance and may be renewed at least thirty (30) days before 
its expiration. The DOH may refuse to renew the NDCC of any food service 
establishment found to be in violation of this Act.  
The failure of any restaurant or food service establishment to secure a NDCC is a 
ground for suspension or revocation of its license to operate. 
 
SECTION 7. Penalties. - A fine of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) but 
not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) shall be imposed upon any 
person operating a food service establishment found to have failed to comply with 
the mandatory nutrition information disclosures or to have declared false or grossly 
inaccurate nutrition information regarding the amount of calories or nutrients 
contained for each standard menu item. 
SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health shall issue the necessary rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts which are not affected shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved.