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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4021

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives Kaka J. Bag-ao and Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution in Article 2, Sections 13 and 15 provide:

Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and
shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It
shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs.

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

Academic studies have shown that there is nothing healthy about carbonated soft drinks or
soda.' Soft drinks contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, phosphorus, and carbon acids
which have harmful effects on the body.’ There is a continuous stream of scientific studies that
show the health risks of soda intake.

Soda consumption is associated with increased fracture risk due to reduced bone mass.’ Soft
drink intake also increases the incidence of dental caries or tooth decay and obesity especially
among adolescents and young adults.’ Phosphorus, high fructose corn syrup, caffeine and the
carbon acids impair the body's capacity to absorb calcium. Soft drink consumption of children is
linked to insufficient calcium in the body, impaired calcification of growing bones, and increased

® Mahmoad M. Saleh A, AL-Alawi F & Ahmed F. “Health Effects of Soda Drinking in Adolescent Girls in the United Arab Emirates.”
Journal of Critical Care 23(3) (2008): 434-440, Print.

sassafras, "The Effects of Soda on Your Body.” Living Healthy 360. Helium Publishing, 4 Nov. 2007. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.

2 Wyshak, Grace et al, "Nonalcoholic Carbonated Beverage Consumption and Bone Fractures Among Women Former College
[Athletes". Journal of Orthopaedic Research X1) (1989): 91-99. Print.

‘Nestle, Marion, "Soft Drink "Pouring Rights”: Marketing Empty Calories to Children”. Public Health Reports 115(4) (2000): 208-319.
Print.


risk of bone fracture.* The high levels of caffeine in soft drinks could “disrupt sleep and lead to
anxiety and DNA damage and hyperactivity, especially among children.’* The World Health
Organization recognized that consumption of soft drinks contributes to the growing incidence of
obesity.” Moreover, soft drinks also increase the risk for heart disease.”

Recent studies associate soft drink consumption by young children with aggression, attention
problems, and withdrawal behavior.”

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found an association between higher risk of the
colorectal cancer and eating “high-energy snack foods” (snack foods high in sugar and fat) and
high-energy drinks (including sodas and other sugary beverages). Their findings are published
in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention.'°

According to a 2010 study in Diabetes Care,"' drinking one to two sugary drinks per day
increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 26 percent, compared with having less than one serving
a month.

Drinking just one can of soda a day increases the risk of developing diabetes by more than a
fifth, according to a European study. Using data from 350,000 people in eight European
countries, researchers found that every extra 12 fluid ounce (340 mi) serving of sugar-
sweetened drink raises the risk of diabetes by 22 percent compared with drinking just one can a
month or less.

‘These trends have also been detected in the Philippines. A study involving children aged 6-12
years old in La Trinidad, Benguet shows the prevalence of dental caries and high consumption
of sugar. Soft drinks are one of the most common sources of dietary sugar (84%).!” The 1998
National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey reported the prevalence of dental carles
among children aged 12 years was 91.7%."

Dr. Tim Gill, the Regional Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific International Obesity Taskforce of
Australia revealed that in the Philippines, 1% of young children (0-10 years) and 3% of
adolescents (11-17 years) were overweight.

Overweight children are more likely to develop health problems and their complications. The
greater the weight excess—the higher a child's body mass index (BMI)—the greater the risk of
acquiring the so-called metabolic syndrome early in life, which includes type 2 diabetes, high

5 rentice, Ann et al. "Symposium on ‘Nutrition and Health in Children and Adolescents’ Session 1: Nutrition in Growth and
Development.” Praceediings of the Nutrition Society 64) (2006): 348-360. Print

* Chua, Philip, “Liquid candy’: Unhealthy." Philippine Dally Inquirer 10 Dec. 2009: n. pag. Inquirer Net: Web. 26 Jan. 2014,

? World Health Organization, "Diet, Nutrition and Prevention of Chronic Diseases.” WHO Technical Report Series (2003): 148, Pint.
® Chua, Philip S. “Liquid candy’: Unhealthy." Philppine Daily Inquirer 10 Dec. 2009: n. pag. Inquirer Net: Web. 26 Jan. 2014,

° Suglia, Shakira et al, "Soft Drinks Consumption is Associated with Behavior Problems in S-Year-Olds.” The Journal of Pediatrics
163(5) (2013): 1323-1328. Print.

© Theodoratou, Evropi et al. “Assocations Between Dietary and Lifestyle Risk Factors and Colorectal Cancer in the Scottish
Population.” European Journal of Cancer Prevention 23 (2014); 8-17. Print.

Mf, Vasanti et al, “Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes.” Diabetes Care 33
(2010): 2477-2483. Print,

"aba, R. N. et al. "Prevalence of Dental Caries and Sugar Consumption Among 6-12-y-old Schoolchildren in La Trinided,
Benguet, Philippines.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 55(32) (2005): 1429-1438. Print.

2 Philippines. Department of Health. National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey. DOH, Manila: 1988. Print.



blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. Obesity, in both children and adults, is a
significant health danger.

The risk factors that characterize this syndrome are elevated triglycerides (blood fats), blood
sugar, and blood pressure, low HDL (High Density Lipoproteins, the good cholesterol), and
abdominal obesity. These precede the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases.

The Manila Doctors Hospital warns that in the Philippines, studies on obesity reveal that the
prevalence rate of obesity among Children was at 4.9% in 2003. Overweight children aged 0-5
years rose from 0.4% to 1.4%, The prevalence rate of overweight children aged 6-10 years was
almost negligible in 1998 but increased to 1.3% in 2003. The results of a survey conducted by
the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology
revealed that in 1989, the prevalence rate of obesity among Filipino children was at 5.7%. In
1993 it increased to 8.8%,"*

It is the responsibility of the State to protect our children from exposure to harmful substances.
The sale of beverages that pose serious health risks can be curbed under the State's police
power.

The passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RE sangpko REP, MARIA LEGNOR GERONA-ROBREDO
Lone District of Dinagat ‘Islands 3 District of Camarines Sur

The Manila Doctors Hospital, “More Obese Filipinos Due to Social Media, Fast-food Meals.” Interaksyon 15
Nov. 2013: pag. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4021

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Kaka J. Bag-ao and Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo

AN ACT
REGULATING THE AVAILABILITY OF BEVERAGES TO CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title, - This Act shall be known as the “Healthy Beverage Options Act of 2014.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article Il, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that
it is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill
health consciousness among them. Pursuant to said provision, it is hereby declared the policy of
the State to actively promote the health of children and to take necessary steps to prevent
serious health risks that can be brought on by the consumption of unhealthy beverages.
Towards this end the State will ensure that children are provided with healthy choices when
purchasing beverages in schools and shall regulate the sale of beverages to achieve this goal.

SECTION 3. Coverage~ This Act shall apply to all persons, institutions, and entities in the
Philippines, whether public or private, which provide, in whole or in part, basic education as
defined under the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, or Republic Act No. 10533.

SECTION 4. Prohibitions. - a) The following beverages shall not be provided or sold at schools:
1. Soft drinks, sports drinks, punches, and iced teas;
2. Fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 percent real fruit juice or that contain
additional sweeteners; and
3. Drinks containing caffeine, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.


b) The following beverages shall be sold at schools:
1. Fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50 percent fruit juice and that do not contain
additional sweeteners;
2. Water and seltzer; and
3. Low-fat or fat-free milk, including, but not limited to, chocolate milk, soy milk, rice
milk, and other similar dairy or nondairy calcium-fortified milks.

SECTION 5. Duty to provide potable water. - Schools covered by this Act shall make free
potable water available for all school personnel, staff, and students. The local school boards
shall include the costs for providing potable water consistently with Sections 99 and 100 of
Republic Act No. 7160 or the “Local Government Code of 1991.”

SECTION 6. Duty to educate students on healthy food choices. ~ All schools shall have the duty
to incorporate into their curriculum lessons on the effects of the consumption of unhealthy
foods and drinks, including the effects of sugar in the human body.

SECTION 7. Implementation The Department of Education in consultation with the
Department of Health shall formulate and promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of
this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity. The Department of Education shall implement
this Act and conduct periodic review of compliance by schools.

SECTION 8. Penalties, - Schools found violating this Act shall be fined one hundred thousand
pesos (P:100,000.00) for every violation.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders and issuances, and rules
and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any portion or provision of this Act shall be
held unconstitutional or invalid, all other parts or provisions not affected shall continue to
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. E/fectivity.~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
Jeast two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,