DOH and Civil Society Urge Solons to Pass Bill Banning Industrial Trans Fat

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




“It’s time to protect Filipinos’ heart health from the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) caused by trans fatty acids (TFA).”

This was the statement of the Department of Health (DOH), World Health Organization Philippines (WHO), and public interest law group ImagineLaw on Valentine’s Day as they called on legislators to pass a measure that will eliminate industrially added TFA in the country’s food supply, as a bid to promote heart health and reduce the risk of CVDs among Filipinos.

The Trans Fat Free Philippines Bills consisting of Senate Bills No. 1916 and 1954, and House Bills No. 7200, 7202, 7934, 8093, and 8128, will ban artificial TFA, most commonly found in food items with partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) such as prepackaged food, baked goods, and fried street and restaurant food.

According to the WHO, TFA is an artificial compound that clogs the arteries and increases the risks of CVDs like heart attacks. CVD is the leading cause of death in the Philippines, claiming around 50,000 Filipino lives every year, and a known comorbidity of COVID-19.

"Corporations and institutions play an important role in creating healthier options for Filipinos. Importante talaga na maka-push pa tayo ng mga policies that will protect Filipinos’ hearts, like for example the Trans Fat Free Philippines Bill that will remove toxic artificial fatty acids from food and in effect, from Filipinos’ households. Law and policies are our society's norms, so dapat healthy 'yung norm natin,” said Sen. Risa Hontiveros, co-sponsor of SB 1916, in her Valentine’s Day video greeting, played during the webinar hosted by DOH, WHO and ImagineLaw today, February 14, 2022.

Once enacted into law, it will completely eliminate the toxic fat from the nation’s food supply by prohibiting PHOs, oils, and fats with high TFA content. As such, it will make all types of food sources, including those from informal markets and food establishments, safe and TFA-free.

“In a 2018 study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, it is found that children below six years of age are at most risk for high TFA consumption. With this, we see that TFA does not only have negative effects on adults but also on the youth. The DOH believes that these Bills, once enacted, would greatly contribute to our efforts in creating healthy food environments in our schools and communities,” said Dr. Beverly Ho, Director IV of the DOH Health Promotion Bureau.

Civil society groups such as the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines (NFP), Nutritionist Dietitians Association of the Philippines (NDAP), Philippine Society of Nutritionist-Dietitians (PSND), and Nutrition Center of the Philippines (NCP) also supported the call for trans fat elimination in the country.

“As Filipinos grapple with the effects of the ongoing pandemic, legislators must act with urgency to promote citizens’ heart health and strengthen their resilience against COVID-19. This Valentine’s Day, we call on the legislators to promote Filipinos’ right to heart health and safe and nutritious food, starting with the urgent enactment of this Bill,” Atty. Sophia San Luis, ImagineLaw’s Executive Director emphasized.


VIDEO LINK (reporters are given permission to download and broadcast):

Watch the Valentine's Day webinar here: transfatfreephilippines.org/recordings

DepEd expresses support over pediatric vaccination of ages 5-11

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The Department of Education (DepEd), along with other government agencies and private organizations, expressed their proactive support to the pediatric vaccination during the RESBAKUNA KIDS: Vaccination Rollout for 5-11 years old on Tuesday at SM Megamall.

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized that the vaccination drive for children is vital to the gradual reintroduction of face-to-face classes and the general welfare of Filipino learners.

"We are passionately committed to this program of vaccination, especially for the children, since we believe that the future our learners is related to well-being, mental health, and physical health. We cannot achieve and move to new forms and ways of teaching unless our children are healthy," Secretary Briones said.

Together with the other heads of agencies, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administered the first dose of the vaccine during the said ceremonial rollout.

"This [Resbakuna Kids event] is another great leap towards our victory against COVID-19. With our children being vaccinated against the Coronavirus, we will have peace of mind that they will be safer and healthier under the new normal," President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in his written message read by Sec. Duque.

The children who participated in the event received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration has issued before the emergency use approval for the lower dosage of the said brand.

In addition, the Department already issued the DepEd Task Force COVID-19 Memorandum No. 606, stating the agency's support to the Pediatric Vaccination of ages 5 to 11.

The said issuance noted that the said vaccination drive would be an essential component of the ongoing efforts to accelerate the safe nationwide expansion of face-to-face classes.

"Now, how is this all related to this morning's event? It is related because we want to include already the expanded face-to-face component of education in the country," Sec. Briones noted.

The DTFC Memo No. 606 also indicated that learners who will be vaccinated during school days should be excused from attending classes. They will need to present their vaccination cards to their teachers.

Furthermore, all DepEd personnel, especially concerned school health personnel and information officers, are encouraged to support the vaccination drive and disseminate information to increase the confidence in immunization among children.

PNR San Pablo-Lucena rout to enhance mobility, and improve access to goods, in Southern Luzon

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The Philippine National Railways (PNR) San Pablo-Lucena route will not only link the rail line to the Bicol network but will also unlock economic potentials and enhance mobility in Southern Luzon, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade said on Monday, 14 February 2022.

“Itong bubuksan nating ruta na San Pablo-Candelaria-Lucena, ito ay idudugtong upang sa ganun ating mapatotoo at mapagtunay ang “Bicol Express”, kaya malaki ang bahagi at ang kahalagahan ng linyang ito para sa Laguna at Lucena sa Quezon in the immediate term,” Secretary Tugade said during his inspection of the PNR Lucena-San Pablo route.

Aside from its use as a passenger commuter service, the PNR Lucena-San Pablo route can also be converted into a commercial or cargo freight service, Secretary Tugade explained.

“Mahalaga rin po na sabihin na itong rutang ito ay convertible hindi lamang papuntang Bicol, kundi maging convertible na maging commercial route dito sa Lucena,” he said.

Stalled for almost a decade, the PNR San Pablo-Lucena route is a 44-kilometer inter-provincial commuter railway which was part of the commuter train service to Bicol with stations and flag stops for daily commuters or short travels.

The PNR Lucena-San Pablo commuter line ceased operation in October 2013 after the collapse of an abutment.

When operations resume, the line will have two (2) terminal stations and four (4) flag stops in between, with travel time of 1 hour and 32 minutes from Lucena to San Pablo.

Parts of the long-distance rail network’s right-of-way will also be utilized for the PNR South Long Haul Project or the "Bicol Express”.

Meanwhile, PNR General Manager Junn Magno expressed his gratitude to the provincial governments of Laguna and Quezon for helping the Department of Transportatiom (DOTr) and PNR in “reaching the country’s aspirations in opening the mass transport.”

GM Magno stressed that the PNR San Pablo-Lucena line will also open the economic corridors of Laguna, Quezon, and Bicol to ensure economic equity and progress in Southern Luzon.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga kasama natin sa Laguna at Quezon. Salamat po sa inyo dahil tinutulungan niyo kami na maabot ang ating aspirations ng ating bansa na buksan muli ang ating mass transport at buksan ang economic corridors ng Laguna, Quezon hanggang Bicol,” GM Magno said.

For his part, San Pablo City, Laguna Urban Development and Housing Officer Emilio Tirones said the PNR Lucena-San Pablo line will aid in various aspects of socio-economic development, including the city’s economic stability, mobility and connectivity and relocation for San Pablo City’s informal settlers.

In 2012, the rail line operated once every two days, Tirones lamented.

“Kung may train, may connectivity at mobility ang bawat bayan gaya ng sinabi ni Secretary Tugade. At the same time, yung economic aspects ng San Pablo—‘yung mga products namin madadala sa inter-province, sa Manila,” he said, adding that the Lucena-San Pablo loop will be 10 trips per day.

“Pati yung informal settlers namin maaayos namin kasi magkakaron sila ng relocation,” he pointed out.