Wazzup Pilipinas?!
Quezon City — Lawmakers, the Quezon City Government, and public health advocates marched together on February 22, 2026, along Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City, to mark Philippine Heart Month and call for stronger food policies that protect Filipino families from heart disease and other diet-related diseases.
The event, titled “Step Up for Healthier Hearts: Sama-samang Hakbang para sa Kalusugan,” united legislators, civil society organizations, and community members in support of three pending measures in Congress: the Healthy Food Environment (HFE) bill, the Front-of-Pack Warning Label (FOPWL) bill, and the Sodium Reformulation bill.
Legislators voice commitment to heart health
Akbayan Representatives Perci Cendaรฑa and Chel Diokno, principal authors of House Bill no. 6834 (HFE Bill), walked in solidarity and pledged their commitment to building a healthy food environment for Filipinos.
Cendaรฑa underscored the importance of clear consumer information and preventive measures, noting, “Dapat may mandatory front-of-package warning labels ang mga laps [pagkain]. Gaya sa love, ang laps, dapat may label. Para alam natin kung keri pa, o major red flag na. Hopefully, the Healthy Food Environment Bill that Akbayan Partylist is pushing for leaves our hospitals with fewer cases of stroke, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases.”
(“There should be mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on food products. Just like love, food should also have labeles—so we’ll know if it’s healthy or already a major red flag. Hopefully, the Healthy Food Environment Bill that Akbayan Partylist is pushing for leaves our hospitals with fewer cases of stroke, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases.”)
Picking up on Cendaรฑa’s call for transparency and informed choices, Diokno emphasized the need for stronger protections for Filipinos: "Kailangan meron ding pananagutan ang mga gagawa ng bagay ng mga hindi nakakatulong sa ating kabataan at lahat ng mga Pilipino. Kailangan natin itong mga panukalang ito [Healthy Food Environment Bill], at sana ay masuportahan ito."
(“There must be accountability for those who produce food and beverages that do not benefit our youth and all Filipinos. We need these proposed measures [Healthy Food Environment Bill] and we hope they will be supported.”)
As of February, 24 bills enabling a healthy food environment have been filed in Congress, with 28 principal authors and 46 co-authors—reflecting a growing momentum for the measures.
Local government initiatives
In the local government,. Councilor Atty. Vincent Belmonte of Quezon City highlighted the city’s ongoing efforts to strengthen heart health and nutrition programs, stressing that Philippine Heart Month is more than just promoting a healthy lifestyle—it is a call for stronger food environments that protect communities.
“Dito sa Quezon City, meron tayong Healthy Public Food Procurement policy para siguardong ang pondo ng taumbayan ay napupunta sa masustansya at healthy na pagkain. Proud din tayo sa ating Calorie Labeling Ordinance na tumutulong sa mga residente na mas maging maingat sa kanilang kinakain, lalo na ang may mga iniindang sakit.”
(“Here in Quezon City, we have a Healthy Public Food Procurement policy to ensure that public funds are spent on nutritious and healthy food. We are also proud of our Calorie Labeling Ordinance, which helps residents to be more mindful of what they eat, especially those with existing health conditions.”)
Medical and civil society support
Beyond legislators, medical leaders and public health advocates affirmed that heart disease prevention must begin with the food environment. Dr. Rodney Jimenez of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) reminded the public of the urgency: “To this day, heart disease remains the leading health concern of Filipinos; and if we want to break that cycle, we must start with the food environment. Stronger policies on nutrition labeling, food marketing, and reformulation of high-sodium products can ensure that the next generation grows up with healthier choices and healthier hearts.”
Atty. Sophia San Luis, Executive Director of ImagineLaw, reiterated the need for systemic health protections through swift congressional action. “Mahirap talagang maging healthy dahil ang mga industriya ng pagkain ay hindi sinasabi sa atin kapag hindi nakakabuti sa kalusugan ang ating pagkain. Kaya sana ay masuportahan ng ating mga mambabatas ang Healthy Food Environment Bill, Front-of-Pack Warning Label Bill, at Sodium Reformulation Bill para ang mga Pilipino ay maging malusog at makapagdesisyon nang tama pagdating sa pagkain.”
(“It is difficult for families to make healthy choices when the food industry does not disclose when products are harmful to our health. That is why our lawmakers must support the Healthy Food Environment Bill, Front-of-Pack Warning Label Bill, and Sodium Reformulation Bill so that Filipinos can live healthier lives and make the right decisions when it comes to food.”)
The wellness walk also featured interactive activities such as Taichi and Fight Form, interactive exhibits, advocacy booths, and a commitment wall where legislators, advocates, and other participants pledged support for healthier food environments, underscoring the collective effort to advance heart health.
PHOTOS FROM THE QUEZON CITY GOVERNMENT
File name: Solons, Quezon City, and Advocates March for Stronger Food Policies on Heart Health (00)
(From left to right) Akbayan Partylist Representatives Perci Cendaรฑa and Chel Diokno, Quezon City Councilor Atty. Vincent Belmonte, Department of Health’s Angelica Palmero, and ImagineLaw Executive Director Atty. Sophia San Luis led the “Step Up for Healthier Hearts” march along Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City, rallying support for stronger food policies to protect Filipino families from heart disease and other diet-related diseases.
File name: Solons, Quezon City, and Advocates March for Stronger Food Policies on Heart Health (01)
Quezon City residents, advocates, and community members joined the Step Up for Healthier Hearts wellness walk along Tomas Morato Avenue, which brought together people of all ages in a united call to protect Filipino families from heart disease.
File name: Solons, Quezon City, and Advocates March for Stronger Food Policies on Heart Health (02)
Akbayan Partylist Representatives Perci Cendaรฑa and Chel Diokno, principal authors of the House Bill no. 6834 (Healthy Food Environment Bill), underscored the need for front-of-pack warning labels to protect and food marketing restrictions to protect the health of Filipino families.
File name: Solons, Quezon City, and Advocates March for Stronger Food Policies on Heart Health (03)
Atty. Sophia San Luis, Executive Director of ImagineLaw, underscores the urgency of building a healthy food environment through stronger food policies such as the Healthy Food Environment Bill, the Front-of-Pack Warning Label Bill, and the Sodium Reformulation Bill.
File name: Solons, Quezon City, and Advocates March for Stronger Food Policies on Heart Health (04)
Quezon City Councilor Atty. Vincent Belmonte proudly shares the city’s health and nutrition initiatives during the Step Up for Healthier Hearts Wellness Walk such as their Healthy Public Food Procurement policy and the Calorie Labeling Ordinance.
File name: Solons, Quezon City, and Advocates March for Stronger Food Policies on Heart Health (05)
Community moms bring energy and joy to the Step Up for Healthier Hearts Wellness Walk with a spirited zumba session.
File name: Solons, Quezon City, and Advocates March for Stronger Food Policies on Heart Health (06)
Akbayan Partylist Representative Perci Cendaรฑa, Quezon City Councilor Atty. Vincent Belmonte, and Rep. Chel Diokno led the signing of the pledge for healthier hearts and a healthy food environment during the Step Up for Healthier Hearts march in Quezon City.
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Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
