COMMERCIAL establishments and businesses in the city may soon remove candies and other sweets from their display shelves and checkout counters.
This is following the approval and forwarding to the City Mayor’s Office of a resolution by the Baguio City Council.
Authored primarily by Councilor Philian Weygan-Allan, the resolution is supposedly a measure to keep children in business establishments from throwing tantrums while in public.
The resolution states that children will be attracted to candies and other sweets at the checkout counters of establishments such as supermarkets and be prone to impatient rage, crying, and throwing tantrums in a bid to get their parents to buy them sweets.
While the resolution is not an ordinance and therefore not mandatory, the resolution states that not only will complying with the resolution be addressing unruly children, it would also be a net positive benefit for the children’s health and growth.
The resolution cites Asia Rountable on Food Innovation for Improved Nutrition, who in a study stated that the country faces an obesity and overweight prevalence of 5.1 percent and 23.6 percent respectively, and that 18 million Filipinos are obese and overweight.
According to the resolution, the removal of sweets from checkout counters and displays is in line with the city’s mandate to ensure a healthy lifestyle for its residents.