QC bans junk food, soft drinks near schools

Quezon City (QC) Mayor Herbert Bautista has approved an ordinance that bans the sale of junk food and soft drinks within 100 meters of a school.

Ordinance 2579-2017, authored by Councilor Irene Belmonte, aims to promote the health and welfare of the students.

It covers all private and public preparatory, elementary, and high school levels in the city.

It also prohibits the giving away of junk food and soft drinks as a mode of promotion.

“Binabawal din natin ang promotion. Ang pag-promote ng mga junk food at sugary drinks, gaya ng tarpaulin, flyers at minsan meron tayong nakikita na nirerepaint nila ang buong eskwelahan ng isang sugary drink, it’s a form of a promotion din,” Belmonte said.

Under the ordinance, the city government will form a joint task force to monitor and implement the ordinance and identify the junk food and drinks to be banned.

The task force is composed of the City Health Department as the lead agency, Department of Public Order and Safety, Market Development and Administration Department, Division of City Schools, chairperson of the Committee on Health of every Barangay, and the chairperson of the Committee on Health, Quezon City Council.

Establishments caught selling junk food and soft drinks will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, 12,000 for the second offense, and 15,000 and a ground for revocation of barangay or business permits for the third offense.

“Ang primary goal natin is to promote healthy eating habits sa mga kabataan. And, by banning the sugary drinks and junk food, we can help the students na magkaroon ng meal plan na healthy,” Belmonte said.