Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1148

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. FAUSTINO ‘INNO’ A. DY V

EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill prohibits the sale, distribution or promotion of junk foods and sugary
drinks inside the premises and within one hundred (100) meters from the perimeter of

public and private elementary and high schools.

The State recognizes that the promotion of health and welfare of the youth,
especially the school children, is one of its primary concerns.

Section 13, Article II of the Constitution provides, in part:

“Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in
nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. x x x”

Also, Section 15 of the same Article provides:

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

Children spend a large portion of their time in s During this period,
parents could not monitor the intake of food and beverages of their children, Thus,
schools are the best venue to instill and promote a healthy lifestyle among children.

To promote and develop healthy eating habits among the youth and school
employees, the Department of Education issued Department Order No. 13, Series of
2017, entitled “Policy and Guidelines in Healthy Food and Beverage Choices in Schools
and in DepEd Office.” Under this Department Order No. 13, schools must ensure that


the food and drinks available to the students in the school premises are healthy and
nutritious

This bill, therefore. aims to reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases and instill
healthy cating habits among school children by prohibiting the sale, distribution or
promotion of junk foods and sugary drinks inside the premises and within one hundred
(100) meters from the perimeter of public and private elementary and high schools.

To protect and promote the health and welfare of students in the educational
institutions, approval of this bill is earnestly recommended.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

ETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

114
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. FAUSTINO ‘INNO’ A. DY V

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE SALE, DISTRIBUTION OR PROMOTION OF JUNK
FOODS AND SUGARY DRINKS INSIDE THE PREMISES AND WITHIN ONE.
HUNDRED METERS FROM THE PERIMETER OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Healthy Canteen Law”,

SECTION 2. The sale, distribution or promotion of junk foods and sugary drinks inside
the premises and within one hundred (100) meters from the perimeter of public and
private elementary and high schools is hereby prohibited.

SECTION 3. For purposes of this Act, junk food refers to food that contains any of the
following:

a) Saturated fat of more than five (5) grams or more than one (1) teaspoon per
serving:
b) Trans fat;
c) Sugar or total carbohydrates of more than twenty (20) grams or more than

four (4) teaspoons per serving; or

d) Sodium of more than two hundred (200) milligram or 1/10 teaspoon salt per

serving.

Sugary drink refers to any liquid substance made for drinking that are carbon-based or
with carbon dioxide gas and categorized as soft drinks, or sugar-based synthetic or
artificially flavored juices.


The aforementioned thresholds shall be subject to review and adjustment by the
Department of Education and Department of Health.

SECTION 4. The owner or operator of any canteen, eatery, restaurant or store who
sells junk foods and sugary drinks inside the premises and within one hundred (100)
meters from the perimeter of any public or private elementary or high school in
violation of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than Twenty five thousand
pesos (P25,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P 100,000.00), or
by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year, or both,
at the discretion of the court. In case the owner or operator is a partnership, association,
corporation or any other juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed on the president
or treasurer of the canteen, eatery, restaurant or store. In addition, the license to operate
the canteen, eatery, restaurant or store shall be suspended for six (6) months.

SECTION 5. The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health shall issue the
rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act to include
the periodic review and adjustment of the thresholds provided in Section 2.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,