Philippine Soda Slayer "Chip" Gatmaytan hits Youtube - Banning Soda in Schools Campaign
Daniel "Chip" Magno Gatmaytan, 9 years old, challenges politicians to take a stand on children's health issues specifically banning softdrinks and other sugary drinks in schools.
Little Daniel "Chip" Gatmaytan's 2012 school project took him all the way to Congress. Then still only 8, he helped convince Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago to file a bill that would regulate the offering of soft drinks in all grade schools and high schools in the Philippines.
Senate Bill 3134 – An Act Regulating the Availability of Beverages to Children in Schools – also had the support of congressmen Kaka Bag-ao and Walden Bello, who on their part had filed a bill at the House of Representatives, HB 4268, to ban soft drinks in primary and secondary public and private schools.
The proposal didn't become law. Over the weekend, Chip took his campaign to YouTube, with the aim of raising the challenge to the next batch of legislators, whoever they may turn out to be. Chip's video challenges the candidates running for the Senate, Team PNoy and UNA, in particular, to take a stand on his proposal.
"The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and private affairs."
"Clinical studies have shown that
softdrinks have no health advantages at all," she said, proceeding to enumerate their ingredients (sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, phosphorus, and carbon acids), as well as their harmful effects on the body (tooth decay, obesity, bone fracture due to weak calcium absorption, hyperactivity leading to sleep disruption and anxiety, and DNA transformation).
Source: InterkAksyon news
Comments:
Daniel Gatmaytan is very young and still active in pursuing such campaign. But I have a question for him-- Are the ideas he uttered in the video are all his? Or was he just plainly influenced by his parents' campaign?
Anyways, it has been proven that soda gives more harm than benefit--it's just like cigarette-- but regulating such in school means what?
If Chip Gatmaytan's campaign will be successful then, how about the stores within 200 meters range from the school's vicinity--Are we also going to ban them from selling softdrinks too?
The provisions will undergo a very long debate in the congress because there's always a freedom of choice.
Though choice has its limitations, DiversityHuman.com supports soda regulation in school instead of completely banning soda products.