Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A 
RESEARCH CENTER ON OBESITY PREVENTION 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 2019 National Nutrition Survey of the Food and Nutrition Research 
Institute (FNRI) reported that there are about 27 million Filipinos who are 
obese and overweight. Furthermore, the Philippines is said to have “very rapid 
growth” in adult obesity over the last two decades and is mostly attributed to 
poor diet and nutrition. 
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.  
As a State policy “to protect and promote the right to health of the people 
and instill health consciousness among them” (Article II, 1987 Philippine 
Constitution), this bill seeks to curb obesity in the country and protect 
Filipinos from this epidemic, by establishing a research center on obesity 
prevention. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 
August 1, 2022
8:15 am
2792


2 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM 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.” 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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;
b. The effectiveness of existing methods for treating or preventing
obesity;
2792


3 
 
c. The effectiveness of alternate methods for treating or preventing 
obesity; 
d. The fiscal impact of treating or preventing obesity; 
e. 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. 
 
SECTION 4. Funding. – 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. 
 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DOH shall be 
primarily responsible in implementing the provisions of this Act. The DOH, in 
consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary 
implementing rules and regulations within thirty (30) days upon the effectivity 
of this Act. 
SECTION 6. 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. 
 
SECTION 7. 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. 
 
 
SECTION 8. 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,