Junk food to be regulated in, around Dagupan schools
THE sale of unhealthy snack foods in and around schools in Dagupan City will soon be regulated following the passage of a resolution last week that aims to prevent obesity and other illnesses among students.
Resolution No. R-109, Series of 2025, authored by Councilor Danielle Francine Canto, a nutritionist, calls for the establishment of a buffer zone and time-of-day restrictions, complementary to school canteen standards, to protect students’ health.
She cited numerous studies and national health surveys showing the alarming rise in childhood obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and lifestyle-related diseases linked to the frequent consumption of low-nutrition, high-sugar, and high-salt snack foods.
The buffer zone will be at least 50 meters from all entry and exit points of both public and private schools, within which the sale, distribution, and promotion of low-nutrition snack foods and sugar-sweetened beverages will be prohibited during school days.
The city government is tasked to impose the regulations, including time-of-day restrictions by disallowing the sale of such products within a specified radius one hour before the start of classes, during recess and lunch breaks, and one hour after class dismissal.
It will also be in charge of developing a “positive food list” in consultation with nutritionists and the Local Nutrition Committee to guide vendors on allowable products that meet health and nutrition standards.
Other related rules will be handled by the city government in coordination with school authorities.
The Department of Education earlier issued guidelines to ensure that public and private school canteens offer safe, nutritious, and affordable meals, but the presence of vendors selling unhealthy snacks just outside school premises undermines these standards and creates an environment of temptation for students.
The resolution cited that several local governments, such as Baguio City, have pioneered ordinances regulating the sale of junk food and sugar-sweetened beverages in and around schools, establishing healthy food zones that have served as models for promoting child nutrition at the local level. (Leonardo Micua)
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