Daven Tamayo

Dumating sa ICI nitong Biyernes, December 12 ang panibagong batch ng 15 kahon ng mga dokumento mula sa ginawang technical validation ng PNP-CIDG sa mga hinihinalang flood control projects ng pamahalaan.

Recently-opened dining place Mr. Pares serves customers in Quezon City on March 14, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Mr. Pares

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Restaurants and food chains in Quezon City are racing against time, with roughly a week left to comply with a new ordinance requiring them to display calorie information on all food and drink items.</p><p>Under City Ordinance SP-3254, S-2024, or the “Calorie Labelling Ordinance,” food establishments must include calorie counts on every menu item to help consumers make smarter, healthier choices.</p><p>City health nutritionist-dietician Jairah Asa Sideco said around 56 food businesses fall under the first phase of implementation, which takes effect December 21.</p><p>Beyond calorie counts, she stressed that other “nutrients of concern,” such as sodium, sugar, and fat, must also be disclosed.</p><p>“Nagkakaroon po ng informed choice ang ating mga consumers. Nalalaman nila kung gaano kataas ‘yong calories na nilalaman ng pagkain,” Sideco said.</p><p>(Consumers are able to make informed choices. They become aware of how high the calorie content of their food is.)</p><p>She explained the significance of calorie awareness:</p><p>“Ang calories po, ito po ‘yong enerhiya na nakukuha natin sa pagkain o inumin,” she said.</p><p>(Calories are the energy we get from food or drinks.)</p><p>“Kapag hindi po balanse ‘yong calories na nakukuha natin ay maari tayong mag-gain o mag-lose ng weight.”</p><p>(If the calories we take in are not balanced with our daily physical activity, we can gain or lose weight.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>THREE-PHASE ROLLOUT</strong></div><p>The ordinance will be rolled out in stages:</p><p>* Year 1: Restaurants with five or more branches in Quezon City (deadline: Dec. 21)</p><p>* Year 2: Restaurants with two to four branches</p><p>* Year 3: All food businesses in the city</p><p>Sideco said the local government has been offering assistance to restaurants, particularly on calorie computation by providing tools and methods.</p><p>“Handa pong tumulong ang mga nutritionist, dietician po ng Quezon City government para bigyan po sila ng assistance when it comes to the positioning ng mga calorie labels sa kanilang menu board, pati na rin sa paggamit ng tool na Menu Eval Plus,” she said.</p><p>(The nutritionists and dieticians of the Quezon City government are ready to help them with the placement of the calorie labels on their menu boards, as well as with the use of the Menu Eval Plus tool.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CUSTOMERS WELCOME TRANSPARENCY</strong></div><p>Customer Bryan Asiatico, who monitors his calorie intake as advised by his doctor, said the ordinance helps people who lack time to research nutritional information.</p><p>“Sobrang appreciated [ko ang ordinance], lalo na sa mga working na tao na tulad ko na hindi mo naman talaga normal na tsine-tsek ‘yong mga ganitong klaseng information. Kung gusto mo talagang magpaka-healthy, talagang magre-research ka pa,” he said.</p><p>(I really appreciate the ordinance, especially for working people like me who don’t normally check this kind of information. If you really want to be healthy, you still need to do your own research.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BUSINESSES BRACE FOR CHALLENGE</strong></div><p>Mark Vasquez, owner of Coffee Buddy with 12 branches, said he supports the measure and intends to comply, but flagged challenges linked to standardizing serving portions.</p><p>“Mas i-promote pa nila kung paano gagawin, magkaroon kami ng guide para at least hindi kami nangangapa na parang kanya-kanya lang ng galaw or what. Sana mabigyan din ng extension kasi hindi biro din ‘to eh—more about science din ‘to,” he said.</p><p>(They should promote more guidance on how to do it and provide us with a guide so we’re not left groping or doing things on our own. I hope they also give an extension because this isn’t easy—it involves a lot of science.)</p><p>With a large menu to audit, Vasquez admitted they are only 80 percent complete and may not meet the deadline.</p><p>“Hindi ko sure kung aabot ako. ‘Yan ‘yong isa kong challenge na sana mapagbigyan pa kami at kahit papano, ginagawa naman namin ‘yong best namin dahil ‘pag natin ‘to together with the local government, I think magiging maganda ang resulta nito,” he said.</p><p>(I’m not sure if I’ll make it. That’s one of my challenges, and I hope we’re given some consideration because we’re really doing our best. If we accomplish this together with the local government, I think the results will be good.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PENALTIES AND EXEMPTIONS</strong></div><p>Non-compliant establishments face fines of up to P5,000, alongside possible cease-and-desist orders or revocation of business permits.</p><p>Barangay micro businesses, ambulant vendors, hawkers, and small carinderias are exempted from the ordinance.</p>

<p>Restaurants and food chains in Quezon City are racing against time, with roughly a week left to comply with a new ordinance requiring them to display calorie information on food and drinks.</p>

Restaurants and food chains in Quezon City are racing against time, with roughly a week left to comply with a new ordinance requiring them to display calorie information on food and drinks.

Food chains in QC rush amid Dec. 21 deadline for calorie labeling rule

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Food chains in QC rush amid Dec. 21 deadline for calorie labeling rule

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 12, 2025 06:00 PM PHT

Read More:

calorie deficit

Calorie Labelling

Quezon City

diet

nutrition

restaurant

fast food

calories

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