Misamis Oriental supports nutrition bill

ADVOCATING health programs in the province, the Misamis Oriental Provincial Council on Monday showed support for Senator Lito Lapid's Senate Bill 2517 or the School Nutrition and Balanced Diet Act of 2010.

Vice Governor Norris Babiera, author of Resolution 272-2010, said it is also the duty of all local government units to promote and protect the health and well-being of children.

Babiera said Lapid's Senate Bill is significant in that it seeks to dissuade the school children in elementary and high school from indulging in the so-called "junk food diet".

"There is a need to pass measures mandating food service providers and caterers in every school to limit the range of meal products they serve," he said.

Babiera emphasized that all meals and snacks being served in schools should have a positive contribution to children's nutrition needs, which can be achieved by ensuring that food items are up to the nutrient-based meal standards set by government nutrition experts.

In order to garner further support for the bill, the Provincial Council has sent copies of the resolution to both houses of Congress through Senators Lapid and Teofisto Guingona, including Misamis Oriental 1st District Rep. Peter Unabia and Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano and to the Department of Education.

Senate Bill 2517 is an act aimed at improving the quality of food served to primary and secondary schools students in school canteens and cafeterias. It seeks to impose penalties on violators. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)