QC ORDINANCE RE. PROHIBITION OF SNACKFOODS/DRINKS NEAR SCHOOLS

The Phili. Consumer-Centric Traders Association (PCCTA) held a forum on 6 July 2019 at the Sulo Hotel to clear things up regarding the new QC Ordinance prohibiting the sale of sugared-beverage and salted-foods to elementary and high school students within 100 meters from the gates of any public or private school.  Needless to say, the same goes for the sale of cigarettes near schools and places where the youth congregate. There were a lot of technical questions asked and addressed during this forum.  However, there were also a lot of gray areas left unclear.  The QC City Hall was represented by a lady-lawyer who is on top of this Ordinance.  She says adults/parents may buy snack foods for school-age children in stores within 100 meters from schools but retailers were not allowed to sell these items (including sugared-beverage) to the same set of children.  Rationale is that this is a health bill trying to encourage children to eat food which provide the proper nutrition.  Children may bring in snackfoods/beverages in their lunch boxes if parents/guardians prepared these for their meals/snacks but are discouraged from buying the same in stores nearby.  Attending for PAGASA was its President, Steven T. Cua and JC Plaza’s mother-daughter team of Susan and Charlene Lim.