Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed Senate Bill No. 3134 called “Healthy Beverage Options Act of 2011″ in an aim to regulate the sales and distribution of soda-based products to mitigate against health risks posed to children and the general public.
An 8-year-old inspired the senator to take kids health
seriously. In 2011, Daniel Magno Gatmaytan, known to his family and
friends as “Chip” has chosen to take on soft drinks as his public
advocacy. Chip is a student of Multiple Intelligence (M.I.) School in
Quezon City and his advocacy started with the school’s annual project
called ‘Kids Can’ where they encourage their students
to take on a public advocacy. His advocacy did not stop as mere
compliance to a school project. It ended as a serious advocacy for this
8-year-old boy.
His mother, Cielo Magno-Gatmaytan, an economist, describes in an interview how Chip painstakingly underwent all the hurdle to show his commitment and passion to his advocacy. He asked QC Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte to help make the regulation
of children’s access to soft drinks a policy at least for his home
city. He also talked with staff of three senators: Pia Cayetano, Ralph
Recto, and TG Guingona. He also asked to meet Sen. Santiago but she was
not at her office during his visit. But his pains have all been paid off. Early this month, Sen. Miriam Santiago filed a bill that will ban distribution of sodas in all public and private schools.
A truly inspiring kid!
