Ordinance seeks to ban junk food in all Valenzuela City schools

MANILA, Philippines — Junk food could soon be banned in public and private schools in Valenzuela City, if a proposed ordinance in the city council is approved.

The ordinance, filed by First District Councilor Rovin Andrew Feliciano, will mandate all public and private schools in Valenzuela to serve and promote only food considered as healthy and nutritious.

In a statement, Feliciano explained that the ordinance will see the city’s nutrition council and health department, together with the local school board, drafting a list of what can be considered junk food so that students can avoid them and schools and stores near schools will not sell them.

The group will also draft a list of nutritious food, which will be promoted by schools and stores near schools.

The proposed ordinance also contains sanctions for schools and stores that fail to comply with these simple directive.

Sanctions range from warnings, to expulsion of officials assigned in public schools, fines for private schools, and fines and suspension of business permits for business establishments.

In his statement, Feliciano said he authored the proposed ordinance to contribute to the well-being of students in the city, noting that it is easy to buy junk food inside schools in Metro Manila.