MANILA — The Quezon City government urged parents and guardians to help promote the health and welfare of students by teaching them the why’s and how’s of healthy eating, as the city government bolsters its ordinance banning junk foods and sugary drinks.
QC Administrator Aldrin Cuña said City Ordinance 2579-2017 or the Anti-Junk food and Sugary Drinks Ordinance of 2017 prohibits the selling and promotion of junk food and sugary drinks in school campuses and within 100 meters from the school fence to all public and private schools.
“Hinihikayat natin ang mga magulang na turuan at gabayan ang ating mga anak nang sa gayon makaiwas sa pag-inom ng sugary drinks at junk food. Ituon na lang natin ang ating atensyon sa mga masustansyang pagkain at inumin (We’re encouraging parents to teach and guide their children to avoid sugary drinks and junk food. Let us focus our attention to healthy food and drinks),” Cuña said.
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has approved the ordinance to show the city’s commitment to the Partnership for Healthy Cities — a global network of cities dedicated to saving lives through the prevention of noncommunicable diseases and injuries such as heart problems, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses.
City Councilor Irene Belmonte authored the ordinance, noting that the success of the implementation of the ordinance will rely greatly on the cooperation of food business owners, particularly sari-sari store owners.
“Para sa ating mga sari-sari store owners at other business establishments na matatamaan nitong ordinansa, isipin din nila ang kalusugan ng ating mga kabataan. Ang pagpapalaki ng isang bata, hindi lamang pamahalaang lungsod Quezon, mga magulang, kundi maging ang buong komunidad. (For our sari-sari store owners and other establishments that will be hit by the ordinance, let’s consider the welfare of our children. Raising a child doesn’t just include efforts of our local government and the parents, but of the whole community), ” Belmonte said.
Violators of the ordinance will be ordered to pay a fine of P1,000 for first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 and revocation of barangay or business permits for the third offense.
The city government has formed a joint task force to oversee the implementation of the ordinance.
It is led by the Quezon City Health Department and includes the Department of Public Order and Safety, Market Development and Administration Department, Schools Division Office, Committee on Health of the Barangays, and Committee on Health of the QC Council. (PNA)
