Last Monday, I proposed that we subsidize healthy school lunches for all children in public schools. And I am happy to report that the Davao City Council is making local legislation to respond to the nutrition crisis being faced by our school children.
Councilor Rachel Zozobrado, who has been our partner in the Davao Food Revolution since 2012, is back in the City Council and leading the advocacy for our community to take nutrition seriously.
The Davao Food Revolution is a project launched during Nutrition Month 2012 initiated by Mothers for Peace in partnership with the City Government of Davao and the Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City Division. It is a project that promotes access to affordable healthy food in schools and communities. No less than then Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte who led the food revolution with other government and nongovernment organizations in the city.
I am happy to note that there is a renewed interest to revive the project and expand it to include more partners and components. And we are hoping to launch the Davao Food Revolution 2.0 this Nutrition Month.
“A significant 26.6 percent of Filipino children under five are stunted, while 5.5 percent suffer from wasting. Geographically, all regions in the Visayas and Mindanao report high stunting rates, with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao registering the highest at 45.2 percent. As children grow older, issues persist, with children aged 10-12 experiencing iodine deficiency at a rate of 12.4 percent, rising to 22 percent among lactating women.”
As part of this push, I am dedicating my column today to share Councilor Rachel’s privilege speech delivered last July 15, 2025 at the City Council:
I rise on a personal and collective privilege to highlight something that affects nearly every home, every school, and every child in our society — nutrition.
The month of July was declared as Nutrition Month by virtue of the passage of Presidential Decree No. 491. Now, more that 50 years after, it is prudent to assess where we stand as a nation in terms of Nutrition.
The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028 discussed the state of child malnutrition in the Philippines and it is very disturbing, to say the least.
To quote a report word per word:
Children in the Philippines are also increasingly becoming overweight and obese. The Expanded National Nutrition Survey conducted by the country’s Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) reported that nearly one in 10 children, aged 5 to 10 years old and 10 to 19 years old respectively, are considered to be overweight and suffering from poor nutrition.
Studies have shown the various negative effects of obesity, undernutrition and malnutrition among children, among them: increased risk for mortality and morbidity, substantial cognitive deficits in school-age children, grade repetition, and a reduced likelihood of employment in formal sectors in adulthood that may result in lower earning potential.
The importance of nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices and targeted interventions in childcare and food intake cannot be over emphasized.
One thing that should also be looked into is the prevalence of unhealthy food, which has little to no nutritional value, or those informally referred to as “junk foods”. Worse, the proliferation of foods with misleading nutrition claims or those that carry health claims that obscure their actual nutritional content, make it very difficult for families to choose nutritious food.
In 2010, this representation as then Chairperson of the Committee on Education, proposed the passage of an Ordinance banning “junk foods” within all school premises and up to 100 meters distance from outside school premises. The proposed Ordinance aimed to ensure that food products sold within the specified area are in accordance with the nutritional needs of the elementary and secondary students.
While it was met with strong and positive support from the parents, some schools and the Department of Education, a number of oppositions were also directed against the same. Discussions over the provisions of the proposed Ordinance went beyond the term of this representation.
On World Obesity Day 2025, the National Nutrition Council (NNC), United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for stronger policies to prevent childhood overweight and obesity and to ensure that children grow up in healthier food environment. Right now, unfortunately, children are growing up in environments where unhealthy food is more accessible than nutritious options. One of these environments are the schools.
The fight against obesity, malnutrition and under nutrition requires a decisive action. This representation respectfully proposes that we revisit the proposal to ban unhealthy foods or junk foods within school premises and nearby areas. But this time, as part of an Ordinance imposing stronger food policies and regulation, including Front-of-Package Nutrition labeling, to provide clear, transparent information, to help parents and consumers make informed choices, and reduce the Davaoeños’, especially children’s, exposure to unhealthy products.
Let us work hand-in-hand to create an environment in Davao City where nutritious options are within reach for every child, every Davaoeño by, among others:
1. Looking at and regulating unhealthy food marketing, including the restriction of the sale of unhealthy foods or as they call it, “junk foods” within school premises and nearby areas;
2. Promoting healthy food procurement and ensuring the provision of nutritious foods inside and outside schools, and
3. Requiring more transparent and improved labeling standards, including Front-of-Package nutrition and risk warning labeling.
In this light, this representation respectfully MOVES that this speech be considered as an item read on first reading and then be referred to the appropriate committee concerned for deliberation and eventual passage of the resolution and corresponding ordinance.
Thank you, Councilor Rachel, for being our champion in the City Council for our children’s nutrition. We are looking forward to having another landmark legislation passed soon.
