Health advocates are urging the Philippine government to accelerate the implementation of a Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) and a mandatory food warning label law in observance of World Kidney Day and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March. The Health Philippine Alliance (HPA), convened by HealthJustice Philippines, emphasized that stronger regulations would protect consumers from unhealthy food products and reduce the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancers, and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

While the World Instant Noodles Association’s "Manila Declaration" has encouraged voluntary reductions in sodium and fat content, HPA insists that mandatory regulations must be institutionalized to set healthier standards for sugar, sodium, and fat levels in pre-packaged food and beverages. Former Health Secretary and HPA lead convenor Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan stressed the need for an NPM that establishes clear nutrient thresholds.

“Those that go beyond the thresholds will be identified through mandatory front-of-pack food warning labels to help consumers avoid products that can harm them," he explained. "These interventions in turn encourage the food and beverage industry to reformulate their products."

Galvez Tan added that HPA continues to push for the adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)-based NPM, aligning with global nutrient intake goals. He stressed the urgency of approving the WHO PAHO-based NPM, which has been pending at the National Nutrition Council.

"We need our leaders to act now and save lives from cancer, CKD, and other chronic diseases. We urge them to approve the WHO PAHO-based NPM that has been pending at the National Nutrition Council," he said.

"Contrary to what the industry has raised, the WHO PAHO Model is appropriate even to the Philippine population because the thresholds are based on WHO's population nutrient intake goals. It is a tool meant for consumer protection," Galvez Tan further said.

Additionally, Galvez Tan pointed out that front-of-pack food labeling is listed as one of WHO's "best buy" solutions to promote healthy diets and prevent NCDs.

In a recently published study in Chile, it was found that after full implementation of their food warning label law, food products tagged with “HIGH IN” warning labels significantly dropped from 70.8 percent to 52.5 percent.

HPA’s Dr. Maricar Sabeniano, oncology manager of the Philippine Cancer Society, also reminded the public that when their diet consists of low intake of fruits and vegetables and high intake of processed meats, they "expose themselves to a higher risk of colorectal cancer."

"The better the quality of food we put in our bodies, the lesser the risk for developing any type of cancer," Sebeniano added, noting that cancer is now the second leading cause of death in the Philippines.

"Our government should start now and impose stricter regulations on unhealthy food products to help Filipinos practice better dietary choices and make it a habit to discern what they consume."

Diets high in sodium and sugar lead to hypertension and diabetes, the top causes of CKD. The National Kidney Transplant Institute estimates that one Filipino every hour develops CKD.

In 2021, the Philippine Society of Nephrology said at least seven million Filipinos are diagnosed with CKD. While a 2022 study revealed that the prevalence of CKD in the country is at 35.94 percent, which means three in every 10 Filipinos are suffering from the disease.

Meanwhile, the WHO reported in 2022 that among the types of cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common among Filipinos, with more than 20,700 cases yearly, and ranks fourth in causes of death, claiming about 10,700 lives a year.