Republic of the Philippines.
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. (5958

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 13, Article Il of the 1987 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."

Likewise, 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."

Pursuant to these policies, there is a need for the State to actively promote the
health of children and to take the necessary steps to prevent serious health risks
brought about by the consumption of unhealthy food and beverages. Consequently,
the State is just exercising its mandate to protect the right to health of the people by
requiring that children are given healthy and nutritious choices when purchasing food
and beverages in school canteens.

This bill seeks to regulate the sale of unhealthy food and beverage in all public
and private schools in the country by adopting some of the guidelines provided in the
Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 13, Series of 2017, entitled “Policy and
Guidelines on Healthy Food and Beverage Choices in Schools and in DepEd Offices.”
With the approval of this proposed measure, we will make available healthy, nutritious
and affordable menu choices to our youth and instill healthy eating habits among them

There is also a need for the State to regulate the marketing and sale of foods
and non-alcoholic beverages in all public and private schools to prioritize restrictions
on the sale and marketing of food products high in sugar, salt and fat. Unhealthy food
eating patterns such as more sugar, fats, oils and less leafy vegetables and whole
grain cereals and a sedentary lifestyle lead to an upward surge in overweight and
obesity.


According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition in all its forms
Presents a significant threat to human health. Today. the world, especially the
developing countries, is facing the existence of the double burden of malnutrition,
According to World Health Organization, double burden of malnutrition is the existence
of undemutrition side by side with overweight and obesity in the same population
across the life course. Poor nutrition impairs physical and brain development in
children. Schools are the best places to implement solutions to over-nutrition,
malnutrition and obesity since children and young adults spend most of their time in
school. Thus, it is imperative to regulate the kind of food and drinks sold at school
canteens.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ESTRELLITA B. SU; ING


wer aneune

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.0958
Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

AN ACT
REGULATING THE SALE OF UNHEALTHY FOOD AND BEVERAGE IN ALL
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY

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 Food and
Beverage Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. —\t is the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
Toward this end, the State shall actively promote the health of children and take the
necessary steps to prevent serious health risks brought about by the consumption of
unhealthy food and beverages. Further, the State shall ensure that children are
provided with healthy choices when purchasing food and beverages in schools, and
shall regulate the sale of unhealthy food and beverages to achieve this goal.

SEC. 3. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to all public and private schools
all over the country.

SEC. 4. Duty of Canteens in All Public and Private Schools. —
Canteens in all public and private schools are required to serve healthy food and
beverages in order to promote healthy diet, positive eating behaviors and healthy
eating environment.

The canteens in all public and private schools are directed to:

a. Make available healthy food and beverage choices among students;

b. Introduce a system of categorizing locally available food and drinks in
accordance with geographical, cultural and religious orientations;

c Provide guidelines in evaluating foods and drinks; and

da. Support and supervise the selling, distribution and marketing of healthy
food and beverages in schools

SEC. 5. Duty to Educate Students on the Ill-effects of Unhealthy Food
and Beverage Choices. — All public and private schools are likewise required to
incorporate into their curriculum lessons on the effects of consumption of unhealthy
food and beverages, including the effects of sugar on the human body.


SEC. 6. Adherence to the Requirements of a Healthy Diet. — Canteens
in all public and private schools are required to adhere to the Philippine Dietary
Reference Intakes as recommended by the Department of Science and Technology-
Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Canteens are obliged to approximate the
nutritive value of foods per serving guided by the following essential factors:

a. Wide range of nutrients;

b. Saturated fat is less than 3 grams or approximately equivalent to more than

half a teaspoon of fat per serving;

c. No trans fat;

d. Added sugar is less than 10 grams or 2 teaspoons per serving; and

@. Sodium is less than 120 milligrams or equivalent to 300 milligrams of salt or

1/20 teaspoons salt per serving.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days
from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall, in consultation with the
Secretary of Health, Secretary of Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition
Research Institute and the National Nutrition Council, issue rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All \aws, decrees, rules and regulations,
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,