More than half of deaths in the Philippines are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), worsened by the lack of accessible healthy food in the country — a growing public health crisis that a proposed House bill aims to address.

On Friday, 22 May, the Healthy Food Environment (HFE) coalition, led by law group ImagineLaw, together with legislative representatives and patient advocates, launched a petition calling for the passage of the Healthy Food Environment Bill, a measure that seeks to regulate nutrition standards and the “aggressive” marketing of cheap and unhealthy products.

The bill targets manufacturers of processed and packaged food products. Under the measure, food products deemed “unhealthy” would be required to carry warning labels to inform Filipinos, especially children, about what they are consuming as obesity and diet-related diseases continue to rise.

The proposal also seeks to prohibit advertising and marketing of unhealthy food aimed at children.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this health crisis is something that is not made by nature, but this is something that has been marketed to us,” former 1Tahanan party-list representative Nathaniel Oducado said.

Based on the proposed measure, the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGUs) would help create local and national task forces tasked with enforcing and monitoring ordinances promoting a healthy food environment.

The coalition said 83 legislators support the measure.

Percival Cendaña, one of the petition signatories, said the public health crisis is also a development and sociocultural issue, citing his experiences as a “baklang ngiwi.”

Jovy Buelva of the Marikina Hypertension & Diabetes Club also shared her experience living with hypertension, saying food labels would help consumers make healthier choices and maintain discipline.

“I have experienced anxiety whenever my BP [blood pressure] readings become high, fear during episodes of chest discomfort, weaknesses and headaches, and feeling stressed about a life-long maintenance treatment,” Buelva testified.

To ensure healthier food options, the measure is also supported by the proposed Iwas Alat Iwas Sakit bill, which proponents said would create a “trickle effect” encouraging healthier products from manufacturers down to local sellers.

“Para maimplement ito, nakikipagusap kami sa mga small businesses na nag mamanufacture ng patis, toyo, bagoong, para mag explore or mag research kung paano mapapababa yung sodium content nung mga sawsawan na ito, without altering the flavor in a significant way,” one advocate said.

ImagineLaw, together with Vital Strategies, also pushed for the now-active calorie labeling ordinance among food establishments in Quezon City.

Health and affordability concerns

The Philippine Heart Association Council for Hypertension reported that 37 percent of Filipinos have hypertension, yet only 52 percent are aware of their condition.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority also showed higher prices for vegetables this year, with carrots reaching P147.55 per kilogram, making healthier food options less affordable compared to cheaper processed products.

“May kinakailangan po talagang overhaul ang ating agricultural system para tiyakin na una accessible at pangalawa affordable ang year round ng atin pong mga vegetables hindi po pwedeng pag tag-ulan o tag-araw ay wala tayong mga gulay na kinakain dahil nga po dala ng panahon,” Cendaña said.

Addressing difficulties in accessing medicines through government programs, San Luis and Cendaña also called for the inclusion of civil society groups to help make medicines more accessible through “social contracting,” similar to programs used for HIV testing and treatment facilitation.

Beyond food regulation

Dr. Alejandro Diaz, a stroke neurologist from the Philippine Society of Hypertension, said around 1.13 billion people worldwide suffer from hypertension.

Diaz said addressing the problem requires not only food regulation but also an increase in hypertension experts and the establishment of more hypertension clinics. The organization has already launched 14 pilot areas nationwide.

At present, the group has chapters in Northern, Southern and Central Luzon, as well as in Iloilo, Davao, Cebu and Misamis Oriental.

“So there is a need to have a dedicated structure, hindi naman kailangan malaki, nandoon lahat, education, knowledge, personnel. And this hopefully will not only be in private hospitals, the hypertension clinics should also be in barangay level, and then there should be a proper referral system for those that cannot be controlled, to the cardiologist ‘pag kailangan, to the neurologist ‘pag kailangan…” Diaz said.

After a year of operations, the Philippine Society of Hypertension is set to present its project findings in Brazil, while the United States and United Kingdom have also expressed interest in adopting the initiative.

Oducado acknowledged that the proposed Healthy Food Environment Bill faces “political friction” from companies that may be affected by stricter regulations.

“There are companies which are adamant in passing this because it would affect their sales, it will affect how they market products. So what do we do? Before we go into partnership with them, let’s show them how strong our relationship is right now,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Kathryn Gloricetta assured the public that the measure is intended to protect consumers and encourage healthier food practices, clarifying that it is not meant to hinder businesses.