Councilor Elmer Datuin has proposed an ordinance establishing a Healthy Public Food Procurement Policy that will require all food procured and served by local government offices and facilities to meet defined nutrition standards.
The proposed measure aims to address the rising burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases, promote healthier diets, and support sustainable and locally sourced food systems. Itwill apply to all city government offices, departments, institutions, boards, councils, committees, and task forces, as well as food suppliers and food concessionaires operating in LGU-owned and -managed facilities.
Government and private institutions in Baguio City are likewise encouraged to adopt the policy through their own internal issuances.
Central to the ordinance is the adoption of Baguio City Nutrition Standards composed of general and setting-specific guidelines that will govern all meals, snacks, and beverages procured, prepared, and served by the city. These standards will limit food high in sodium, sugar, and trans-fat, and promote whole and minimally processed food. Different standards will apply to hospitals, child development centers, offices, meetings, trainings, and other institutional settings, with detailed requirements provided in the ordinance annexes.
Under the proposed policy, nutrition standards will be integrated into all stages of the procurement process including Project Procurement Management Plans (PPMPs), technical specifications, bidding documents, and post-qualification procedures. Bidders will be required to certify compliance with the nutrition standards, while the General Services Office (GSO), in coordination with the Bids and Awards Committee, will be tasked to verify compliance through document checks, inspections, testing, and sampling when necessary.
The ordinance also allows for the use of framework agreements to ensure that nutrition standards are maintained during emergencies and calamities. In addition, city offices may directly purchase agricultural and fishery products from accredited farmers’ and fisherfolk cooperatives under the Sagip Saka Act, promoting faster access to fresh and healthy food while supporting local producers.
To advance sustainability, the measure promotes the use of eco-friendly and sustainable food packaging, encouraging suppliers to adopt biodegradable, compostable, and reusable materials, alongside the development of LGU guidelines to support compliance.
The City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) will lead programs to strengthen local sourcing of healthy food and ingredients including partnerships with traditional markets, linkages between suppliers and local farmers and fisherfolk, and non-monetary incentives for suppliers that source from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The program will also include assistance to producers to help meet government demand and promote sustainable agriculture.
The Baguio City Nutrition Committee will serve as the lead policy and oversight body for the ordinance. It is responsible for issuing implementing guidelines, integrating the policy into the City Nutrition Action Plan, coordinating with city and national agencies, and leading monitoring and evaluation efforts. The Nutrition Division of the City Health Services Office (CHSO) will support implementation by updating standards, developing tools, and providing free training to food suppliers and end-users.
Other offices, including the Health Promotion Unit, General Services Office (GSO), and CVAO, will have defined roles in communication campaigns, procurement oversight, inspections, capacity building, and urban agriculture initiatives to ensure consistent compliance across city operations.
The ordinance also mandates the conduct of education and training programs for procurement personnel, food suppliers, and concessionaires, as well as a social and behavior change communication campaign to promote healthy diets and raise awareness of the nutrition standards among government offices, barangays, and the general public.
Coordination with national government agencies will be undertaken for jointly operated facilities and for technical and programmatic support. Barangays are likewise encouraged to adopt similar nutrition standards in their own procurement policies.
For funding, the first year of implementation will be supported by a Department of Health grant under the Healthy Public Food Procurement Playbook, with subsequent funding to be proposed under the annual budget of the CHSO and supplemented by national government and external partners.
Implementation will begin after a six-month grace period, during which the city will conduct orientations, baseline data gathering, and intensive information and education campaigns to prepare stakeholders for full compliance.
The proposed ordinance was approved on first reading by the Baguio City Council on January 26, 2026 and referred to the Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology, and Environmental Protection for review. **Jordan G. Habbiling
