BAGUIO CITY, Philippines The City Health Services Office (CHSO) stresses that one of the health burdens in Baguio is non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, heart disease, and diseases affecting the blood vessels. During the first Health Governance Summit in Baguio, health authorities, lawmakers, and other stakeholders gathered to discuss solutions to reduce NCDs in the city through healthy public food procurement. During the summit, Atty. Kim Louise C. Are๑o of ImagineLaw, a non-government organization, explained that the Healthy Public Food Procurement Policy proposes that no public funds be spent on unhealthy food. This initiative directly supports the citys goal by aiming to improve citizen health, ensure nutritious and sustainable public food, and allocate healthcare savings for essential services. Building on these discussions, healthy food procurement is expected to help address the rising number of cases of non-communicable diseases by promoting balanced meals with the right portions of meat, vegetables, carbohydrates, and fruits for a healthier diet. Its scope applies to all offices, departments, institutions, and task forces of the Baguio City Government. Other government offices as well as private institutions in the city will also be enjoined to adopt the same policy on food procurement in order to maximize its health impacts. ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง: ๐๐ถ๐พ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ Atty.Yvette Zaide Soberano, also of ImagineLaw highlighted the threat of alcohol intoxication to others aside from its health effects on the drinker. According to the World Health Organization, more Filipino youth are becoming exposed to and at high risk of alcohol. In the long term, harmful and hazardous levels of alcohol consumption can lead to social problems, including family problems, issues at work, financial problems, and unemployment. She then introduced the RESET Alcohol Program in the Philippines, which supports the Philippine government in developing effective, evidence-based policies to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms. Model ordinances ban consumption in public places, regulate alcohol sales licenses, establish a minimum legal drinking age, impose restrictions on hours and days of sale, and authorize the imposition of alcohol bans during times of emergency, calamity, or threat to public order and safety. Additionally, these ordinances restrict advertising, promotions, and sponsorship. Such ideas are considered and will be studied by health authorities and local leaders. The City Health Services Office (CHSO), led by Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes and Councilor Elmer Datuin, Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Environment and Ecology, is also at work to study and craft possible initiatives on healthy food procurement for Baguio LGU employees and possibly to other constituents as well. NMacadangdang, MNicolas, KJDP
