For Mae Lanuzo, a certified weight watcher and cycling enthusiast, there is no better way to start the year than being reminded that the body is a temple—one that needs to be taken care of.
“It reminds me that every bite comes with a decision: to lose or gain weight, to lose or gain confidence,” she said.
Such stirring, aspirational words might easily be mistaken for the brainchild of fast-food chains which, aside from menus and price points, now include calorie counters.
Under the Calorie Labeling Ordinance, passed in 2023 and enacted in March 2024—with its first phase beginning last December 20, 2025, in Quezon City—the idea is to display calorie labels as part of the choices one makes when ordering food, “to empower QCitizens to consciously choose healthier meals, reducing their risk of lifestyle diseases,” said Mayor Joy Belmonte in a file interview as reported by pna.gov.ph earlier last year.
The ordinance specifies a phased rollout. Large food chains with five or more branches are covered in the first phase. Smaller establishments with at least two branches, as well as hotels, are slated for inclusion in 2026. Full compliance for all food businesses—except certain microenterprises and MSMEs—is expected by 2027.
You might reconsider those late-night cravings as this initiative is supported by the Department of Health (DOH), noting that the move would help the general public better weigh their options.
“Sana magsipagayahan na din ang iba pang lugar sa Pilipinas. Naniniwala ako na tama ito at napapanahon. A healthy citizenry engenders a healthy economy,” said Edmon Caballero, a senior high school social science teacher who also debunks myths and reorganizes facts and fiction in his discussions on economics and related matters.
This laudable effort by a local government has the potential to ripple across other cities and provinces, as health and fitness are national concerns. The rest of the world has already jumped on this beneficial bandwagon years back—particularly countries taking active steps to curb obesity and related health issues.
