QUEZON CITY Mayor Herbert Bautista is supporting an ordinance that bans the sale and promotion of junk food and soft drinks within 100 meters of public and private schools.
Known as the Quezon City Anti-Junk Food and Sugary Drinks City Ordinance of 2017, Ordinance 2579-2017, authored by Councilor Irene Belmonte, claims the regulation seeks to advance the health and welfare of students.
Covered by the ordinance are private and public preparatory, elementary and high schools in Quezon City.
Aside from the ban, the ordinance also prohibits the distribution of junk food and sugary drinks as a mode of promotion, the dispensing of free samples and the marketing and advertising of such products.
The ordinance also proscribes the sponsorship of events by companies producing junk food and soft drinks.
It is not known how the ordinance would affect fast-food restaurants like Jollibee, McDonald’s, KFC, Shakey’s and Pizza Hut, which operate in many areas of the city, and hundreds of eateries that sell student meals with Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, 7 Up, Sarsi and other carbonated drinks.
Most US soft-drink companies use corn syrup instead of sugar for their products, with Coke adding raisin flavors and Pepsi having more citric acid.
Many eateries are located near schools in Cubao, Aurora Boulivard, Katipunan Avenue, Mother Ignacia Street, Santa Mesa Heights, D. Tuazon, Araneta Center and SM North Edsa.
“We prohibit promotional activities, including junk food and sugary drinks and the use of tarpaulin and flyers. We even saw one company repainting a whole school. That is a form of promotion also,” Belmonte said.
In support of the ordinance, the city government will form a joint task force to identify the prohibited junk food and sugary drinks, monitor schools and implement the ordinance.
Comprising the task force are officials from the City Health Department as the lead office, the Department of Public Order and Safety, Market Development and Administration Department, Division of City Schools and the chairman of the Committee on Health of every barangay, as well as the chairman of the Committee on Health of the Quezon City Council.
All establishments found to be selling junk food and sugary drinks will be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense; and P5,000 for the third offense, as well the revocation of barangay or business permits.
“Our primary goal is to promote healthy eating habits among our youth. And, by banning the sugary drinks and junk food, we can help the students have healthy meal plans,” Belmonte said.