by: Rodrigo S. Victoria
NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) – Junk foods and softdrinks will no longer be available soon in school canteens and stores with the passage of an ordinance prohibiting its sale, promotion and distribution in elementary and secondary schools including in nursery and day care centers, this town.
The proposed ordinance authored by Dr. Gabino S. Velasquez IV, Naval Sangguniang Bayan (SB) chairman of the committee on health and co-authored by Councilor Nick Arthur V. Parilla, is entitled “An Ordinance Prohibiting the Sale, Promotion and Distribution of Junk Foods and Carbonated Drinks in All Day Care Centers, nursery, Elementary and High School Canteens, Stores, Restaurants within the School Premises of the Municipality of Naval,Biliran.
The proposed ordinance strengthens DepEd Order No. 8 series of 2007 which mandates all public elementary and secondary schools to sell only nutrient-rich foods and fortified food products in school canteens and that sale of carbonated drinks, sugar-based synthetic or artificially flavored juices, junk foods, and any other similar food products detrimental to the child’s health and do not bear the Sangkap Pinoy seal and did not pass the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD) is prohibited.
One of the reasons cited in the passage of the ordinance is the rising count of obese schoolchildren in the locality which is due to eating junk foods which contributes greatly to malnutrition and obesity and other obesity-related illnesses.
The local ordinance further cited the commitment and accountability of the local government unit of the right of children to good health, which is among of the other basic rights accorded to schoolchildren.
The ordinance also spells out the best interest of the children thereby protecting their health shall be efficiently coordinated with other sectors, agencies,and parents to make them more effective and productive.
Councilor Velasquez, a medical doctor by profession who served as municipal health officer of Maripipi, Biliran for several years informed that though the proposed local ordinance is still subject for public hearing, yet, he is positive for its enactment.
“It is high time for a local ordinance that would spell out what is good for the nutrition of our schoolchildren to be passed especially at present where our market is flooded with junk foods which are not really good for them to eat”, Velasquez said.
Doc Gabby, as he is fondly called by friends, also served as chief of the technical section of the Biliran Provincial Health Office (BPHO) where one of his functions is to oversee the nutritional status of schoolchildren
A committee hearing on the ordinance prohibiting the sale of junk foods and sofdrinks was conducted recently at the Naval SB Session hall with health officials and personnel in attendance led by Dr. Edgar Veloso, Biliran provincial health officer together with heads of elementary and secondary schools in Naval and some representatives of concerned national government agencies in Biliran province. # (fj/PIA 8 Biliran)
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