The Mimaropa Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) is encouraging local government units to pass local ordinances that will impose sanctions to restaurants, canteens, food establishments and ambulant vendors near schools which are selling unhealthy food and beverages.
This was expressed by members of the RNC in their proposed Resolution No. 2 Series of 2019.
According to the 2015 National Nutrition Survey of the Department of Science and Technology- Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), the percentage of overweight/obese children in Mimaropa were classified according to these age groups: zero to five years old (3.9%); five to ten years old (8.6%) and 10-19 years old (9.2%).
Also according to that study, overnutrition among school children in the Philippines is due to unhealthy food eating patterns – more sugars, fats, and oils and less vegetables and whole grain cereals, added to their sedentary lifestyle.
The Department of Education (DepEd) initiated its own programs to promote health and wellness in schools. Thus in March 2017, it issued an order that set the policy and guidelines on healthy food and beverage choices in schools. In June 2018, DepEd also launched its flagship health program ‘Oplan Kalusugan (OK) sa DepEd’, which is a convergence of its health programs, plans and projects.
On the other hand, the National Nutrition Council, which serves as Chair of the regional nutrition council, continuously campaigns for proper nutrition and prevention of non-communicable diseases through its popularized version of the 2012 Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos.
RNC is composed of directors and heads of regional offices in Mimaropa. (Melanie B. Ronquillo/PIA-MIMAROPA)
