Lapid wants healthy food program to replace chips, sugary drinks in schools

This October 2017 file photo shows children at a feeding activity of DepEd-ARMM in Marawi City.

The STAR / John Unson

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Lito Lapid wants junk food and sugary drinks banned from primary and secondary schools and replaced with programs offering health food and beverages.

Senate Bill No. 1231, or the Healthy Food and Beverage in Public Schools Act, presents these measures as a solution to the problems of child obesity and malnutrition among Filipinos, which lead to the deaths of 95 Filipino children each day per the findings of a 2014 UNICEF Philippines report cited by the senator. 

In his explanatory note, the senator argued that healthy eating plays an important role in learning and cognitive development. He said studies have shown that children malnourished children struggle in school and get lower test scores, which could lead them to drop out entirely.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/09/05/2207543/lapid-wants-healthy-food-program-replace-chips-sugary-drinks-schools