A measure has been filed in the Senate mandating the establishment of a labeling and nutritional awareness program that will require schools to post nutritional content information of the food served in schools.
Senate Bill 2125, authored by Senator Nancy Binay, aims to guide students to make the right choices in selecting good food for them to lead healthy lifestyles.
“It is our objective to ensure that good nutritional choices becomes part of their [students] everyday life. In addition, it can help them reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic
diseases and promote overall health,” the senator said in her explanatory note.
Under the proposed “Healthy Food Choices for Kids Act,” the Education secretary shall award grants to not more than five regions that will assist not more than 10 schools carrying out the pilot program.
The schools that will be given grants should post nutritional content information in school canteens regarding the food items served there and teach students how to make healthy food selections.
To qualify for the grant, a region shall submit to the Department of Education an application stating that it will ensure that the schools meet the pilot program requirements within one year.
Under the proposed bill, the region should also have a plan to inform all the schools about the pilot program, give assurance that it will use not less than 95 percent of the grant funds to award to schools; and award subgrants to at least three but not more than five schools located in the rural areas.
For a school to be qualified for the grant, it shall submit an application to the region stating the plan for the implementation of the program including efforts to ensure that nutritional content information, such as calories, are posted in a visible location at the point of decision in the canteen and are readable and appropriate for students.
According to the bill, the school should also state efforts to develop and implement or expand a school wellness program or other nutritional awareness program as well as efforts to consult with a licensed
nutritionist-dietitian at least once a year regarding the program.
Each region receiving grant funds shall also submit a report to the DepEd secretary who will in turn submit a report to the committees on education, arts and culture, and agriculture and food of the Senate and the House of Representatives