Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO5925

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Il of the 1987 Philippine Constitution embraces, as a matter of State policy, the
goal “to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
‘among them.”

‘The 2013 National Nutrition Survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI)
reported that the number of obese Filipino adults increased from 16.6 percent in 1993 to 31.1
percent in 2013. This means that three out of 10 Filipino adults are obese. Furthermore, the
prevalence of obesity for Filipino children with ages five to ten are marked at five percent. The
incidence of adolescent obesity (11 to 19 years old) also increased from 5.8 percent in 2003 to
8.3 percent in 2013.

Numerous studies have indicated that obesity increases risks in an individual's health,
thereby also reduces a person's life expectancy. Potentially fatal conditions associated with
obesity include Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancers, and gall bladder disease.

‘To protect Filipinos from this epidemic, this bill seeks to establish a research center on
obesity prevention.

Recognizing obesity as a complex condition with genetic, metabolic, behavioural, and
environmental factors contributing to its development, people need to be informed properly of
the risks, prevention, and treatment of obesity. In this line, the passage of this bill is earnestly
‘sought.

‘ALFRED V:


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NOOD25

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A RESEARCH CENTER ON
OBESITY PREVENTION

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 "Obesity Prevention Act.”

SEC. 2. Overweight and Obesity Defined. - As used in this Act, unless the context
otherwise requires, the terms overweight and obesity are defined as the abnormal or
excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A crude population measure of
obesity is the body mass index (BMI), a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square
of the individual's height in meters. An overweight and obese person also suffers from one
or more of the following conditions or diseases: (1) Type II Diabetes; (2) Impaired glucose
tolerance; (3) Hyperinsulinemia; (4) Dyslipidemia; (5) Hypertension; (6) Cardiovascular
disease; (7) Cerebrovascular disease; (8) Osteoarthritis of the hips or knees; (9) Sleep
apnea; (10) Gastric reflux disease; or (11) Gall bladder disease.

‘SEC. 3. Establishment of Research Center by the Department of Health. - The
Obesity Prevention Research Center to be established by the Department of Health (DOH)
is authorized to sample and collect data on individual cases where obesity is being actively
treated and to analyze such data in order to evaluate the impact of treating obesity. Such
data collection and analysis shall include the following:

a. The epidemiology, risk factors, screening and diagnosis, complications, and
control of obesity in Filipino adults, adolescents, and children;

.. The effectiveness of existing methods for treating or preventing obesity;

The effectiveness of alternate methods for treating or preventing obesity;

The fiscal impact of treating or preventing obesity;

The compliance and cooperation of patients with various methods of treating or
preventing obesity; or

f. The reduction in serious medical problems associated with diabetes that results

from treating or preventing obesity.

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SEC. 4. Fund. ~The DOH is authorized to fund the research center authorized in this
Act from gifts, grants, and donations from individuals, private organizations, foundations,
or any governmental unit; except that no gift, grant, or donation may be accepted by the
DOH if it is subject to conditions that are inconsistent with this Act or any other laws of this
State, The DOH shall have the power to direct the disposition of any such gift, grant, or
donation for the purposes of this Act.

After completion of the research, the DOH shall submit a report and supporting
materials to the legislature by June 1 of the following year.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 7, Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette and/or in newspapers of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,