• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance establishing child healthy zones in all public and private schools, and child development centers in Bacolod City, was passed on first reading by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.
The proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Em Ang and co-authored by Councilor Celia Flor, said the Bacolod City Nutrition Committee envisions a “Healthy Bacoleños, Productive Bacolod” striving to be a nutritionally improved city whose people are well nourished, intelligent, and socially and economically productive reaching their full potential with a high sense of human dignity.
Recent data tracking on the Bacolod City Nutrition Trend for children aged zero to 59 months from 2020 to 2024 indicates a concerning upward trajectory in malnutrition rates, with 2024 figures showing 5.30 percent for stunting, 3.57 percent for underweight, 2.02 percent for overweight and obesity, and 0.65 percent for wasting, it said.
The city faces severe dual burden of malnutrition, as evidenced by national rankings among highly urbanized cities (HUCs) and independent component cities (ICCs) where Bacolod City currently ranks 7th highest in underweight with 875 cases and 8th highest in overweight and obesity with 742 cases, the ordinance said.
This nutrition crisis heavily impacts local communities, with stunting notably affecting heavily populated barangays such as Singcang-Airport which recorded 229 cases, and Alangilan which recorded 69 cases, demonstrating an urgent need for localized intervention, it said.
The proliferation of unregulated ambulant vendors, sari-sari stores, and commercial stalls selling sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially flavored juices, and highly processed junk food in the immediate vicinity of schools create a good environment that undermines the dietary habits of students and directly contributes to these rising nutrition statistics, the ordinance said.
It is imperative for the City Government of Bacolod to take proactive measures aligned with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023 to 2028 to shield its youth from dietary health risks by creating supportive and heavily regulated environments that encourage proper nutrition and ensure access to healthy food alternatives during their formative years, it said.
The proposed ordinance strictly prohibits certain acts within the Child Friendly Zones, promotes healthy alternatives, and provides penalties for violation of the provisions of the ordinance.*
