FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2517 
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Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
SEP 14 
1119 :5' 
It has become the usual practice of school children to take their daily meals in school 
canteens. It is a common knowledge that for school-age food consumers, what would appear 
most saleable are the common junks like chips, hotdogs, burgers, pizza, tacos, fries, soda 
drinks and the like. Normal entrepreneurial practice would naturally sell what is being demanded 
the most 
It is alarming to note that these type of foods taken by the children daily during the entire 
school year as regular meal or snack do not only fail to provide them with proper nutrients but 
have been the primal sources of diet related diseases like obesity, cancer, coronary heart 
disease and diabetes to name a few. It has also been a universal norm across the globe that 
children coming from either the fist or third world countries do not get enough of important 
nutrients like iron, calcium, zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Folate required for an active mind 
and body. 
Children's energy requirement increases rapidly because they are growing quickly and 
becoming more active. To achieve this requirement, foods which are high in energy and protein, 
should be taken as part of regular meals. Other nutrients are likewise needed to achieve the full 
potential of a child's body development which can only be attained through proper intake of 
nutritional food. 
This piece of legislation seeks to address the problem by mandating food service 
providers in every school to limit the range of meal products they serve for breakfast, lunch and 
snack to food and drinks which will make a positive contribution to the nutrient needs of children 
by basing them on nutrient-based meal standards to be recommended by government experts 
in the field of nutrition. 
I believe that it's high time for the government to undertake the much needed radical 
reform to advance this unfortunate situation by way of ascertaining that food supplied in school 
meals should be strictly limited to those fortified with the necessary vitamins and proteins for all 
school children while banning those that may be hazardous to health. 
Govemment's vision in achieving its goal for a healthy citizenry could only be attained 
through proper nutrition and balance diet starting from the young age. 
I encourage my colleagues to support the immediate passage of this bill.....,. __ ... 
MAHd~. 
LAP •• 
Senator 
r 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2517 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
TO IMPROVE THE NUTRITION QUALITY OF FOOD SERVED TO 
PRIMARY 
AND 
SECONDARY 
SCHOOL 
STUDENTS 
IN 
SCHOOL 
CANTEENS AND CAFETERIAS, PROVIDING PENAL TIES THEREFORE 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "School Nutrition 
and Balanced Diet Act of 2010". 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote, 
nurture and protect the health, nutrition and well-being of children in the society. The 
government is duty bound to address problems of common chronic diseases and other 
diet-related health problems that hit school children year in and year out by instilling a 
policy that will ensure that school children will be served with well balanced and 
nutritious meals. 
SEC. 3. 
Definition of Terms. -
For the purpose of this Act, the following 
shall mean: 
1. 
Food Service Providers -
shall refer to all canteens, cafeterias, food 
concessionaires, caterers and similar establishments including individuals involved in 
school meal services operating inside the premises of private and public primary and 
secondary schools. 
2. 
Schools -
shall refer to all private and public primary and secondary 
educational institutions. 
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3. 
Food Product - shall refer to any breakfast, lunch, and snack food meals 
including all forms of beverages and drinking products. 
4. 
Institute - shall refer to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute under 
the Department of Science and Technology. 
5. 
Nutrient-Based Meal Standard - shall primarily refer to the combinations 
of recommended and balanced nutrient content of an average meal of school children 
enough to provide them with protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, fiber, iron, zinc, 
calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folate, sodium, and other nutrients highly needed by 
school children as may be determined by the Institute. 
SEC. 4. 
Coverage. -
All primary and secondary educational institutions 
licensed and registered under the Department of Education shall be covered by this Act. 
SEC. 5. 
Compulsory Incorporation of Nutrient-Based Standards on 
Meals. - Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, all food service providers, 
are hereby required to prepare food products for sale in accordance with the nutritional 
specifications of nutrient-based standards on meals as provided for under this Act. All 
school board or authorities concerned shall adopt and enforce policy guidelines to their 
school service providers for the proper implementation of the nutrient-based standards 
on food products sold in schools throughout the day. 
SEC. 6. 
Formulation of Nutrient-Based Meal Standards. - The Institute 
shall formulate, determine and set a benchmark on the sufficient amount of nutrient 
intakes of schoolchildren required for good health and growth. For this purpose, the 
institute shall come-up with an easy to understand Nutrition based Meal Standards that 
shall contain among others the recommended proportion of nutrient content and 
balanced diet for an average breakfast, lunch and snacks. Provided, however, that the 
Institute shall prepare sample meal sets to serve as reference basis for meal planning, 
covering the entire school days of the calendar year, which would meet the nutrient-
based meal standards. 
SEC. 7. 
Trainings on Food Preparations. - All catering staff directly and 
indirectly involved in the preparations and servings of meals in schools covered by this 
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Act, shall undergo training on good nutrition and menu planning to equip them with 
proper meal preparation skills that will comply with the Nutrition-based meal standards. 
SEC. 8. 
Banning of Unsafe Foods and Drinks. - In order to ensure that 
food and drinks being sold over the school shall be exclusive to those that meet the 
nutrient-based standards, unsafe foods and drinks as determined by the Institute shall 
be perpetually banned from being sold inside the school premises. 
SEC. 9. 
Enforcement and Monitoring Agency. -
A multi agency 
o 
committee composed of representatives from the Department of Education, Department 
of Health, Department of Science and Technology and the School Board concerned is 
hereby created to enforce and monitor the proper implementation and compliance of the 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 10. 
Penalties. - Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall, 
upon conviction, be penalized by imprisonment of prision correcional in its maximum 
period up to prision mayor in its minimum period, or a fine of not less than Php200,OOO 
nor more than Php500,OOO; or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the 
court: Provided however, That if the violation is made by a corporation, association, or 
partnership, the penalty provided herein shall be imposed upon the directors, preSident, 
or managing partners; Provided further, That if the violation is committed by the Private 
or Public School, for not enforcing the provisions of Sections 5 and 8 hereof, they shall 
be charged administratively. 
SEC. 11. 
Repealing Clause. 
-
The provision of any law, which is 
inconsistent with the provisions of this act, is hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 12. 
Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act 
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected. 
SEC. 13. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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