Sen. Lito Lapid filing a bill regulating the marketing of junk food and sugary drinks in public schools is welcome news.
In recent years, local legislations have been enacted by several sanggunian to support healthier diets and nutrition for children based on Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 which mandates local government units to give paramount consideration to health and well-being of the members of the community, especially to children and to instill health consciousness among them.
The Department of Education also issued policies like Department Order No. 13 dated March 17, 2017, which provides rules, regulations, and guidelines on healthy food and beverage choices in schools and all department offices in order to promote a healthy diet and positive eating behavior to learners and to its teaching and nonteaching personnel. Be that as it may, the enforcement, monitoring, and evaluation of these local and institutional policies are an imperative need.
I humbly suggest that Senator Lapid should also integrate into his bill the offering of nutrition education and related activities that can empower schoolchildren with knowledge and skills in making judicious choices for their food and drinks when they are either inside or outside the school premises. If I may add, parents of schoolchildren should also take part in this learning opportunity and engage themselves in nutrition education activities in schools. In this way, what is learned from nutrition education in school is supported and supplemented at home.
REGINALD B. TAMAYO,
Marikina City
reginaldtamayo@yahoo.com