; a 24FeB 2014

Republic of the Philippines ii [toe
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES , Bt ft
Quezon City f

SIXTEENTH (16™) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Hotse BillNo.__ 3979”

Introduced by Hon. Lorna Q. Velasco

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution declares the duty of the State to enact and enforce laws that will
protect and promote the right of every Filipino to health. Specifically, Section 5 of Article
Il of the fundamental law states that:

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

To this end, this bill seeks to provide fast food customers a healthier choice and thus, in
the process, promote their right to health by mandating all fast food chains and
restaurants to make available in their menu and sell bottled purified, mineral or distilled
water.

At present, many fast food establishments in the country do not serve or offer to sell
bottled water to paying clients. This is unfortunate because a sizeable sector of the
population suffer from different diseases that make their consumption of beverages
other than water harmful to their health. The absence of bottled water in the menu of
some of these establishments causes inconvenience and, in some cases, force the
customer to drink sodas or juices which are detrimental to their health

\t is also noteworthy that the first and eight leading causes of mortality in the country are
diseases of the heart and diabetes, respectively. Consumption of sodas, juices and
other carbonated drinks are directly related to these two diseases. Moreover, sugars,
sweeteners and other ingredients used in making these beverages cause obesity and
being over-weight which increases your risk for deadly conditions such as kidney
stones, chronic kidney diseases, heartburn and acid reflux, hypertension, impaired
digestion and liver diseases.

In diet sodas, aspartame is used as a substitute for sugar, and can actually be more
harmful. It has been linked to almost a hundred different health problems including



seizures, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, diabetes, and emotional disorders. Diet sodas
also increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, which causes belly fat, high blood sugar
and raised cholesterol.

Taking all of these into consideration, it is only appropriate to give fast food customers
the right to have the option of buying bottled water in keeping with the duty of the State
to protect and promote the right to health of the people.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is hereby being earnestly sought.

Hives tases

LORNA Q. VELASCO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH (16™) CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3379
Introduced by Hon. Lorna Q. Velasco

AN
ACT REQUIRING ALL FAST FOOD CHAINS AND RESTAURANTS TO SELL.
BOTTLED PURIFIED, MINERAL, OR DISTILLED WATER TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.

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

Section 1. Short Title — This act shall be known as the “Fast Food Customer Welfare Act
of 2014.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy ~ The State recognizes the right of every Filipino to
health, shall strive to instil health consciousness and give them the right to make
healthy choices.

Section 3. Requirement of Selling Bottled Water — All fast food chains, establishments
and restaurants shall be required to include in their menu, sell and make available to
every customer bottled purified, mineral or distilled water.

Section 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The Department of Health (DOH)
through the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) shall formulate and issue rules and
regulations, including appropriate penalties for violators, implementing this Act within
thirty (30) days upon its effectivity.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and other
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Section 6. Effectivity — This act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,