How would you regulate sugar?

For STS THX and WFX.

Please answer the following questions –

1. Would you regulate sugar?
2. What measure would you suggest?
3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?

If you answered no to the first question then give five (5) reasons why.

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46 Responses to How would you regulate sugar?

  1. Dianne Hung says:

    GROUP 15 WFX

    1. YES

    2. For products with high sugar content, we suggest listing down diseases and harmful side-effects that can result from too much intake of sugar.

    3. This is an easy way to disincentivise consumers from buying sugar because it is already a working mechanism for cigarette smokers in some countries (e.g. Singapore)

  2. Kathreene Danielle Rafael says:

    STS THX ( 2:30-4:00) – GROUP 17

    1. Given what you know about sugar, should it be regulated?
    From what we’ve learned from the documentary showed to us last Thursday, sugar is truly a ‘silent killer.’ There is no doubt that sugar has become so ordinary and integral in our everyday dining that its immense effects on the body have been pushed aside. For one, we’ve learned that the average person consumes more than the recommended moderate amounts, which has caused diabetes and obesity rates all over the world to increase. We’ve also learned that sugar is highly addictive, making it very difficult for people to remove it from their diets themselves. Hence, we believe sugar should be regulated at a local/national level.

    2. How will you regulate this?
    – Implement a sin tax for sugar.
    – Schedule monthly appointments with dietician.
    – Hold seminars or talks in schools to raise awareness at an early age.
    – Disallow bulk selling of sugar.
    – Incentivise production of healthier substitutes like honey and stevia.
    – Eliminate foods that contain excessive amount of sugar across the entire school and hospital environment (e.g. canteens, school events, vending machines, etc.).
    – Mandatory regulation on food advertising.
    – Encourage those who produce/manufacture products with sugar to find ways to eliminate it or find an alternative for it.
    – Prohibition against putting more than 3% sugar on food products.
    – Disseminating information about foods that can reduce blood sugar levels.

    3. Of all the propositions, which solution is the most feasible and why?
    Sugar is mass produced so it is accessible to everyone. The supply is high, because the demand is also high. We can adjust this by increasing price through sin tax – same with cigarettes and alcohol. By increasing the price, it will be less accessible. The government, however, should state and disseminate their underlying reason (e.g the harmful effects of excessive sugar intake) for implementing such tax. The sin tax from sugar can be allocated for health budget instead (for cases of diabetes, etc.).

  3. Samantha P. Amante says:

    THX Group 8
    Coordinators:
    Amante
    Hubo
    Tuppil
    Members:
    Cag-ong
    Cura
    Ejercito
    Peñaranda
    Salvacion
    Masangcay (absent)

    1. Yes, we would regulate sugar.

    2. The measure that we would suggest is a bill concerning sugar regulation on a national scale.
    ASUKALAW: Sugar Regulation Act of 2016
    Article I. Rationale for Act
    Sugar must be regulated to promote health and wellness and to decrease the global prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and the like.

    Article II. Social Awareness
    Section 2.1 – Awareness campaigns should be conducted by the Department of Health (DOH). People of all ages should be made aware of the dangers of the overconsumption of sugar. These can be conducted at places like school, where children can be properly educated about this topic.
    Section 2.2 – Posters to spread awareness should be put up at factories and other offices of sugar manufacturers. They should also be conscious of the dangers of too much sugar.

    Article III. Institutions
    Section 3.1 – An annual blood test should be conducted at workplaces, schools, and other institutions. This will ensure that workers, students, and others are aware of their blood sugar levels and can be informed if it is below or above the normal level.
    a. For workers, one requirement for work is that their blood sugar level must meet the normal standard (or at least be a reasonable amount below or above it), and that they must consult a doctor if their blood sugar level is already too low or too high.
    b. For students, one requirement for school is that the school clinics must monitor their diet and sugar intake. Knowing the students’ blood sugar level and advising them accordingly can promote students’ health and wellness.
    Section 3.2 – The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) should set a standard sugar level on all products. This standard level will be determined by the amount of the product and the amount of sugar in each one. Products must not contain too much sugar.

    Article IV. Penalties
    Tax will be imposed on companies who produce beyond the sugar standard. They will also be penalized as deemed appropriate by the DOH and the DTI.

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    We think this could be effectively implemented because they are practical and reasonable. The rationale for the act is reasonable due to the dangers of overconsumption of sugar. The awareness campaigns will help educate people about these dangers, causing them to be more mindful of their sugar consumption and to take on the personal responsibility of regulating their own individual sugar intake. The annual blood test will also be helpful and beneficial for all parties involved, as it will give people vital information about their blood sugar levels and hopefully prevent diabetes, obesity, and the like. Likewise, the setting of a standard sugar level is reasonable given the dangers of too much sugar. It is doable for companies as the act only asks for regulation and not complete removal of sugar from their products. Thus, the Sugar Regulation Act and all of its components make sense and can be effectively implemented.

  4. Jen says:

    THX Group 5:
    1. Yes
    2. Ways to regulate sugar:
    a. By law, make it mandatory to have a health check-up to regulate blood sugar level.
    b. Require buyers of product with high sugar content to present a proof/slip/card that they are eligible to purchase. (similar to the idea of a senior citizen’s card when availing discounts or the age restriction when purchasing alcoholic beverages)
    c. Raise awareness on the bad effects of sugar, especially to the health-conscious market (long-term; user-generated regulation)
    d. Create an agency that will regulate sugar (i.e. National Commission on Sugar)
    e. Impose a “sugar tax” on producers. Also, require them to include warning labels on their products. (similar to the sin tax and warning labels for cigarettes)
    f. Regulate companies’ production rate of sugar; only a certain amount of sugar content will be allowed.
    3. Most practical:
    e. Impose a “sugar tax” on producers. Also, require them to include warning labels on their products. (similar to the sin tax and warning labels for cigarettes)
    Why? It would be easier to implement a restriction when it is imposed on the producers; the tax would be the “barrier” to excessive sugar production; producers will react to this extra production cost and adjust production accordingly

  5. GROUP 9- WFX says:

    Group 9
    WFX
    1.No
    2.
    A. Impractical to regulate because most food have sugar
    B. Sugar is only bad when too much is taken in
    C. Sugar is a cheaper alternative for those who can’t afford more expensive carbohydrates.
    D. If we regulate sugar then more sugar factories will be shut down and people will lose their job.
    E. Sugar is part of our culture
    F. Food with sugar is a good stress reliever
    G. Sugar helps with the intake of bitter medicine.
    H. Most food businesses use sugar and it is a thriving industry in our economy, and regulating it will lower our economic progress.

  6. WFX: Group 12 says:

    Group 12 (Ang Ngo Ching, Castro, Elegado, Gutirerrez, Macabodbod, Ochoa, Piczon, Sales, Trazo)
    WFX

    1. Would you regulate sugar?
    – Sugar should be regulated by the consumers

    2. What measure would you suggest?
    – 1) Consumers can learn to use alternative sweeteners such as Honey & Muscovado
    2) Consumers should educate themselves about proper daily diet and the risks of excessive sugar intake
    3) Consumers can learn how to read labels and compute for their daily sugar intake
    4) Consumers can optimize the technology available such as smartphone applications and calorie counting scales to help them regulate their sugar intake
    5) The Government should reinforce laws that ensure the regulation of sugar intake in the country through the goods produced by companies, and fund research and development institutions that work on developing low-sugar alternatives

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    – “2) Consumers should educate themselves about proper daily diet and the risks of excessive sugar intake”
    Concerned authorities in the country such as the Department of Health (DOH) can pioneer the creation of projects and campaigns that will help raise more awareness and even educate the public regarding the consequences of unregulated sugar intake. An example of this would be placing sugar intake computation charts for display in food courts and groceries. They could also create effective public service advertisements that also aim to raise awareness about the issue and educate the audience regarding regulated sugar intake. It would be helpful to feature iconic public figures in these advertisement to gain more attention especially among the masses. In the context of funding research in the Philippines, specifically since sugar intake levels (measured by the glycemic index) is also affected by our intake of rice, a carbohydrate— ongoing research is being done at the International Rice Research Institute here in the country on developing healthier rice varieties that release less glucose upon intake, and thus have less effect on GI levels and could be helpful especially for diabetics.

  7. Samantha Roque says:

    Group 3 THX

    1. Yes
    2. – Incorporate the sugar content of the product in its barcode
    – Create an app that counts sugar intake (could be based on a certain database)
    – Use of healthier alternatives
    – Higher tax for the importation of products containing excessive amounts of sugar (as defined by FDA)
    – Launch marketing campaign to spread awareness (commercials, pubmats, disclaimers attached to the product itself, can be done with the help of DOH)
    – Propose to have a separate regulatory board for sugar
    – Print nutritional facts of products on the front side
    – Propose that products should display the amount of “added sugar” present
    3. Launching of marketing/awareness campaign

  8. STS THX Group 5 says:

    1. Yes
    2. Ways to regulate sugar:
    a. By law, make it mandatory to have a health check-up to regulate blood sugar level.
    b. Require buyers of product with high sugar content to present a proof/slip/card that they are eligible to purchase. (similar to the idea of a senior citizen’s card when availing discounts or the age restriction when purchasing alcoholic beverages)
    c. Raise awareness on the bad effects of sugar, especially to the health-conscious market (long-term; user-generated regulation)
    d. Create an agency that will regulate sugar (i.e. National Commission on Sugar)
    e. Impose a “sugar tax” on producers. Also, require them to include warning labels on their products. (similar to the sin tax and warning labels for cigarettes)
    f. Regulate companies’ production rate of sugar; only a certain amount of sugar content will be allowed.
    3. Most practical:
    e. Impose a “sugar tax” on producers. Also, require them to include warning labels on their products. (similar to the sin tax and warning labels for cigarettes)

  9. Hannah Servida says:

    STS THX 2:30-4
    Group 15

    The group answered:
    Sugar has many uses- from brain stimulation, release of dopamine to being a source of carbohydrates. Too much sugar is bad as it may also cause diabetes and obesity.

    The group does not think that sugar should be related for several reason. The first being that regulation of something like sugar can only be controlled on an individual level. One cannot control anything but himself/herself.
    We think that the regulation of sugar will do more harm than good. Trying to regulate sugar would require government intervention in terms of raw product. We all know that if ever there were to be a regulation of sugar, it cannot be implemented immediately. The government will also have to take into consideration the effect this ‘regulation’ will take on our economy. There will be people who will rally against it and there are certain people who still won’t follow suit or cannot be controlled to do so.

    The decrease or regulation of sugar will have a drastic effect on the sugar industry. It will affect the harvest and production of sugar of many companies and even affect the income of provinces like Negros Occidental. This in turn will affect the jobs of the people who harvest the sugarcane every season. Companies that are heavy on sugar consumption will also be affected by the regulation of sugar production. They will either have to reformulate their product (which is unlikely) or increase their prices. This in turn will affect the cost of living of everyone because a lot of companies utilize sugar in their products.

  10. Bianca Pleyto says:

    Group 7 (WFX):

    Anything lacking or in excess can and is most likely harmful– if not harmful, disadvantageous in one way or another. This is the reason why everything should be taken in moderation– sugar included. Too much sugar leads to an imbalance in the human body, directly leading to diseases such as diabetes or possibly putting on unhealthy weight, indirectly leading to other problems such as an increased risk for heart attacks or strokes. Put in other words, it is highly encouraged that sugar intake be regulated.

    One way to regulate the aforementioned is by limiting access to such a product. A ceiling on how much sugar companies can produce annually can be implemented; imposition of a tax increase for vendors who import the product, as well as a syntax on the commercial sale of sugar itself may help too.

    Spreading awareness is another way to help regulate sugar intake. Learning about the harmful effects of excessive sugar intake within the institutional curriculum can raise awareness at an early stage. Using layman’s terms for nutritional facts helps inform and caution people on what they might ingest in their body. Lastly, and with careful consideration, the most practical way to contribute to the issue at hand is by creating infographics.

    Infographics are a great way of relaying relevant information. By presenting facts in an ingenious and innovative manner, it calls the attention of one ordinary individual. Infographics can be used to show sugar intake in each meal, or better, to show sugar intake and its potentially harmful effects on the actual packaging of food and/or drinks itself.

    • Bianca Pleyto says:

      CORRECTION: Changing our group number from “Group 7” to “Group 13”

      “Anything lacking or in excess can and is most likely harmful– if not harmful, disadvantageous in one way or another. This is the reason why everything should be taken in moderation– sugar included. Too much sugar leads to an imbalance in the human body, directly leading to diseases such as diabetes or possibly putting on unhealthy weight, indirectly leading to other problems such as an increased risk for heart attacks or strokes. Put in other words, it is highly encouraged that sugar intake be regulated.

      One way to regulate the aforementioned is by limiting access to such a product. A ceiling on how much sugar companies can produce annually can be implemented; imposition of a tax increase for vendors who import the product, as well as a syntax on the commercial sale of sugar itself may help too.

      Spreading awareness is another way to help regulate sugar intake. Learning about the harmful effects of excessive sugar intake within the institutional curriculum can raise awareness at an early stage. Using layman’s terms for nutritional facts helps inform and caution people on what they might ingest in their body. Lastly, and with careful consideration, the most practical way to contribute to the issue at hand is by creating infographics.

      Infographics are a great way of relaying relevant information. By presenting facts in an ingenious and innovative manner, it calls the attention of one ordinary individual. Infographics can be used to show sugar intake in each meal, or better, to show sugar intake and its potentially harmful effects on the actual packaging of food and/or drinks itself.”

  11. Kathreene Danielle Rafael says:

    STS THX 2:30-4:00
    GROUP 17

    1. Given what you know about sugar, should it be regulated?
    From what we’ve learned from the documentary showed to us last Thursday, sugar is truly a ‘silent killer.’ There is no doubt that sugar has become so ordinary and integral in our everyday dining that its immense effects on the body have been pushed aside. For one, we’ve learned that the average person consumes more than the recommended moderate amounts, which has caused diabetes and obesity rates all over the world to increase. We’ve also learned that sugar is highly addictive, making it very difficult for people to remove it from their diets themselves. Hence, we believe sugar should be regulated at a local/national level.

    2. How will you regulate this?
    – Implement a sin tax for sugar.
    – Schedule monthly appointments with dietician.
    – Hold seminars or talks in schools to raise awareness at an early age.
    – Disallow bulk selling of sugar.
    – Incentivise production of healthier substitutes like honey and stevia.
    – Eliminate foods that contain excessive amount of sugar across the entire school and hospital environment (e.g. canteens, school events, vending machines, etc.).
    – Mandatory regulation on food advertising.
    – Encourage those who produce/manufacture products with sugar to find ways to eliminate it or find an alternative for it.
    – Prohibition against putting more than 3% sugar on food products.
    – Disseminating information about foods that can reduce blood sugar levels.

    3. Of all the propositions, which solution is the most feasible and why?
    Sugar is mass produced so it is accessible to everyone. The supply is high, because the demand is also high. We can adjust this by increasing price through sin tax – same with cigarettes and alcohol. By increasing the price, it will be less accessible. The government, however, should state and disseminate their underlying reason (e.g the harmful effects of excessive sugar intake) for implementing such tax. The sin tax from sugar can be allocated for health budget instead (for cases of diabetes, etc.).

  12. Daryl Peralta says:

    GROUP 9 STS THX

    1. Would you regulate sugar?

    Yes. We would like to regulate sugar.

    2. What measure would you suggest?

    We suggest that a sugar tax law should be implemented. This would be patterned to the existing sin tax law for alcohol and tobacco products. The idea is to add tax to products with high sugar level which will result to increase in their price. This will discourage people to buy sugar products. The additional revenue can then be used for other purposes like for health care services.

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?

    We think this could be effectively implemented because an increase in price results to decrease in demand based on studies. Also, we already have a similar law existing for alcohol and tobacco products. If only the lawmakers will realize the effect of sugar to health, this proposed law could also be implemented.

  13. Shaira Joy Yubal Montes says:

    GROUP 14 STS THX (TTh 2:30-4:00)

    1. Would you regulate sugar?
    Yes, sugar should be regulated. According to an article by Garber (2013), there are four criteria in order for a substance to be seen in having a need to be regulated: (1) it should be ubiquitous, (2) toxic, (3) addictive, and (4) have a negative impact to society. On the first one, obviously, sugar can be seen everywhere. Second, sugar is toxic in a sense that excess sugar is converted into liver fat which can result to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. On being addictive, study shows that sugar tends to satisfy our hunger; thus, making us addictive to it. Relatively, sugar really does have a negative impact to the society as it becomes one of the reasons for diabetes, child obesity and even adult obesity. So basically, sugar can be considered as a substance that should be regulated.

    2. What measure would you suggest?
    One measure that we can suggest is to impose like somehow an additional tax to products which contain high amounts of sugar. Furthermore, it could be that there are regulated measures/ amount of sugar to be observed based on the kind of product and this would be the basis for the increase on tax.

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    Basically, this idea came from the sin tax policy which increases the taxes on cigarette products and would result into an increase in the amount of the product in the market and thus, discouraging people or its consumers to buy or to decrease their consumption on such products. It can be effectively implemented because the sin tax law has also proven itself because of the gradual but sure decline on the number of smokers in the country (Social Weather Stations, 2014). Furthermore, it would also encourage companies that utilize sugar to lessen its amount in their products in order for these to not have a great price increase which would shock their consumers. Also, the additional tax would be a great help in the DOH health budget when it comes to addressing sugar-related diseases. It would serve as funds in helping people be healed from their sugar-related diseases.

    References:
    Garber, M. (2013, June 29). A case for regulated sugar like alcohol. Retrieved September 07, 2016, from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/a-case-for-regulating-sugar-like-alcohol/277361/
    Social Weather Stations. (2014, June 18). First quarter 2014 Social Weather survey: Survey on usage, attitudes and behavior of Filipinos towards smoking. Retrieved September 07, 2016, from http://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20151214171318

  14. Rangel Daroya says:

    STS THX (TTh 4-5:30pm)
    Group 11

    1. Yes

    2. We have thought of the following solutions to be possible to regulate sugar:
    a. Prohibit bottomless drinks (iced tea, coke, sprite, etc)
    b. Ban white sugar in favor of brown sugar (“the darker the better” referring to sugar)
    c. Natural sweeteners as substitute for white sugar
    d. Limit openings of pastry shops, ice cream parlors, and the like
    e. Implement a price increase on unhealthy, sugary items compared to healthier ones

    3. We think option e would be best implemented from above. It can be done by imposing some kind of tax on sugary products that would not be beneficial to the health of the people. It could be implemented in a way so as to promote the healthier alternatives by making these healthier options relatively cheaper. Current methods similar to sin tax for alcoholic drinks and cigarettes can be used. Together with this implementation, the promotion of health can be done with proper advertisement and awareness. People should be educated on the dangers sugar can introduce to the body, and how moderate consumption is important. However, it should not be taken out of notice the possible effect this can have on businesses such as candy companies and the like. The implementation of this rule or law should also take into account possible alternatives for these kinds of companies. It may also be possible to give them some time or leeway before making the tax on sugary goods effective.

  15. Bea Jacob says:

    Group 10
    Jacob, Francisco, Umbina, Daquioag, Capioso, Prado, Peralta, Arceo, Samson

    1. Given what you know about sugar, should it be regulated?
    Yes

    2. How will you regulate it?
    ? Direct control by government/institutions
    ? Consumption of sugar will be banned for a certain period or time (e.g. no alcoholic drinks after 12 A.M.)
    ? The container in every product containing sugar must be labeled or covered with pictures showing the risk of consuming too much sugar (like what they do in cigarette boxes).
    ? Online and media campaign, TV advertisements, and seminars about the risk of consuming too much sugar.
    ? Food in canteens must be regulated by their cooks/chefs.
    ? Encourage consumption of natural sweets such as fruits instead of sweets.

    ? Companies
    ? Companies and industries should regulate the distribution of sugar. There must be a certain amount of products distributed per place.
    ? Payment for extra sachets of sugars in coffee shops.
    ? There will be a maximum concentration of sugar in every product.
    ? Decrease the amount of sugar in milk formula.
    ? Higher taxes for companies producing or consuming high amounts of sugar.

    ? Family/Individual
    ? Responsible parenthood: Parents must feed their children food with less sugar, and teach them to control their sugar consumption.
    ? Early intervention. Start a healthy diet while the children are still young. No sodas or powdered juices in your house and in school.

    3. Of all your propositions, what is the most practical, implementable, and why?
    For us, the most practical and implementable is the regulation of sugar through the control of government and institutions. In today’s setting, many people believe in our President, Rodrigo Duterte, and so obedience is expected after these regulations are implemented. Also, if companies will regulate the sugar consumption, only a few group of people can be reached out whereas if the control is in the government’s hands, the implementation will involve a wider scope of people.

  16. Isabelle Beatriz DLS Ginez says:

    STS THX Group 2

    1. Yes, we would regulate sugar.

    2. A few of the measures we suggest:
    – Create and establish an awareness campaign about the health risks of sugar
    – Have nutrition workshops or infomercials
    – Put tax on sugar
    – Encourage production and usage of alternative forms of sugar
    – Free blood sugar tests in barangays
    – Ban certain high sugar products

    3. Our most effective measure: Create and establish an awareness campaign about the health risks of sugar and have nutrition infomercials and free blood sugar testing in barangays

    We believe that it will be most effective because it is easy to implement, and it starts with the current situation and introduces the problem to the people before bombarding them with policies. It is also inexpensive and is the easiest way for the people to learn about the effects of sugar.

  17. Sugar has many uses- from brain stimulation, release of dopamine to being a source of carbohydrates. Too much sugar is bad as it may also cause diabetes and obesity.

    The group does not think that sugar should be related for several reasons. The first reason being that regulation of something like sugar can only be controlled on an individual level. One cannot control anything but himself/herself.

    We think that the regulation of sugar will do more harm than good. Trying to regulate sugar would require government intervention in terms of raw product. We all know that if ever there were to be a regulation of sugar, it cannot be implemented immediately. The government will also have to take into consideration the effect this ‘regulation’ will take on our economy. There will be people who will rally against it and there are certain people who still won’t follow suit or cannot be controlled to do so.

    The decrease or regulation of sugar will have a drastic effect on the sugar industry. It will affect the harvest and production of sugar of many companies and even affect the income of provinces like Negros Occidental. This in turn will affect the jobs of the people who harvest the sugarcane every season. Companies that are heavy on sugar consumption will also be affected by the regulation of sugar production. They will either have to reformulate their product (which is unlikely) or increase their prices. This in turn will affect the cost of living of everyone because a lot of companies utilize sugar in their products.

  18. STS THX 2:30-4
    Group 15

    Sugar has many uses- from brain stimulation, release of dopamine to being a source of carbohydrates. Too much sugar is bad as it may also cause diabetes and obesity.

    The group does not think that sugar should be related for several reasons. The first reason being that regulation of something like sugar can only be controlled on an individual level. One cannot control anything but himself/herself.

    We think that the regulation of sugar will do more harm than good. Trying to regulate sugar would require government intervention in terms of raw product. We all know that if ever there were to be a regulation of sugar, it cannot be implemented immediately. The government will also have to take into consideration the effect this ‘regulation’ will take on our economy. There will be people who will rally against it and there are certain people who still won’t follow suit or cannot be controlled to do so.

    The decrease or regulation of sugar will have a drastic effect on the sugar industry. It will affect the harvest and production of sugar of many companies and even affect the income of provinces like Negros Occidental. This in turn will affect the jobs of the people who harvest the sugarcane every season. Companies that are heavy on sugar consumption will also be affected by the regulation of sugar production. They will either have to reformulate their product (which is unlikely) or increase their prices. This in turn will affect the cost of living of everyone because a lot of companies utilize sugar in their products.

  19. STS THX
    GROUP 15

    Sugar has many uses- from brain stimulation, release of dopamine to being a source of carbohydrates. Too much sugar is bad as it may also cause diabetes and obesity.

    The group does not think that sugar should be related for several reasons. The first reason being that regulation of something like sugar can only be controlled on an individual level. One cannot control anything but himself/herself.

    We think that the regulation of sugar will do more harm than good. Trying to regulate sugar would require government intervention in terms of raw product. We all know that if ever there were to be a regulation of sugar, it cannot be implemented immediately. The government will also have to take into consideration the effect this ‘regulation’ will take on our economy. There will be people who will rally against it and there are certain people who still won’t follow suit or cannot be controlled to do so.

    The decrease or regulation of sugar will have a drastic effect on the sugar industry. It will affect the harvest and production of sugar of many companies and even affect the income of provinces like Negros Occidental. This in turn will affect the jobs of the people who harvest the sugarcane every season. Companies that are heavy on sugar consumption will also be affected by the regulation of sugar production. They will either have to reformulate their product (which is unlikely) or increase their prices. This in turn will affect the cost of living of everyone because a lot of companies utilize sugar in their products.

  20. charltondy says:

    STS THX Group 6

    1. Would you regulate sugar?

    Yes. Sugar intake should be regulated. There are several references that provide information on the recommended intake for different age groups here in the Philippines. However, it is not advisable to limit or totally omit sugar from the diet since it plays a vital role in the metabolism of other nutrients in the body as a main source of energy.

    2. What measures would you suggest?

    a. Awareness campaign which will tackle and include the following:
    * Proper labelling of products by placing emphasis on the percentage composition of sugar in the food item.
    * Including recommended sugar intake per day on products.
    * A figure on the percentage of how much sugar a product is contributing to a person’s daily consumption should also be included on products.
    * Steps may also be taken to include pictures of diseases that are linked to massive sugar intake.

    b. Sin tax will now apply to products containing sugar. This aims to lower the demand due to the expected increase in the price of the commodity.

    c. Exercise Programs for the locals to participate in. Exercise is known to increase the production of endorphins in the body which in turn results to the decline of craving for sugar.

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?

    Option A looks like the most feasible of all the suggestions since most of the work will be done by the food manufacturers. In this suggestion, the consumers are guaranteed to have the information they need to know about sugar and how much of it is in the food they are consuming. Using these information, consumers will have a better idea of what their actual level of sugar consumption is and how they should go about it.

  21. STS WFX GROUP 14

    1. No, sugar does not need to be regulated.

    2. The following are the reasons why it is not viable and/or feasible to regulate sugar:
    a. Everyone’s body types and compositions are different. We can’t dictate an explicit amount for how much sugar every person needs.
    b. Measuring the sugar intake of each household in the Philippines is not feasible.
    c. Diabetes has different aspects. It does not simply mean a person is ingesting too much sugar.
    d. Sugar is a huge part of the income of the Philippines. Taking it away or limiting it will have an impact on the economy.
    e. In the industry-scale, a lot of companies rely on sugar for their products.
    f. Sugar is already ingrained in the basic diet of Filipinos. In truth, Filipinos are naturally inclined to sweet foods, like our own version of spaghetti and banana ketchup. You can’t easily take that part away.
    g. Alternatives for sugar (i.e. the sweeteners used in Coke Zero and the like) are not really any better.
    h. Putting additional tax on sugar (similar to Sin Tax) is not viable. Raising the prices does not immediately mean that consumers will stop buying them.
    i. It is better to simply inform consumers about the sugar content of the products through labels rather than having the government imposing upon them strict rules about their own personal diet.
    j. Similar to reason i, campaigns and encouragement to lessen sugar intake are better than placing a mandatory limit to sugar intake of a household.

  22. Group 12
    THX

    1. Would you regulate sugar?

    Yes.

    2. What measure would you suggest?

    a. Increase the price of sugar.
    Just like what the government did in the price of cigarettes, our group thinks that higher sugar prices reduce sugar intake by decreasing diabetes prevalence and reducing the number of sugar consumed by people.

    b. Limit the supply of sugar.
    Our group suggests that the sugar each sugar companies receive be be controlled and that they should all receive an equal supply of sugar. Through this act, we believe that the tobacco market will be decreased and cause the people to find alternatives for sugar (which leads us to our third proposal).

    c. Find alternative to sugar.
    One alternative is the Stevia (S. rebaudiana) Plant is a composite herb and shrub found in the tropical and subtropical parts of America. It is a naturally occurring, zero-calorie sweetener. More countries like Japan and countries in the European Union have been using it as an additive to their food. The leaves of the stevia is used as noncaloric sweetener thus it can be a healthy alternative for sugar. The leaves can be converted to white powder composed of one or more intensely sweet glycosides. Production of stevia plants can be helpful in people who take too much sugar since this is noncaloric. Also, people who buy a lot of sugar can save money if they plant stevia on their backyard. Another alternative is honey. Honey has a lower GI (Glycemic Index) value than sugar, meaning that it does not raise blood sugar levels as quickly. Honey, though, is sweeter than sugar, so one may use less of it, but is does have slightly more calories per teaspoon so it’s wise to keep a close eye on your portion sizes.

    d. Biotechnology.
    Remove the harmful components of sugar through biotechnology.

    e. Educate the people.
    Being in digital generation, it is much easier to educate people about the negative effects of too much sugar consumption by posting images, videos, posters, etc in social media.

    3. Our group thinks that the most practical way of regulating human’s sugar intake is by educating them. We can teach the people on how to read the labels in the food and the nutrition facts. Sometimes also unless one is enlightened about the harmful effects a thing could bring, he cannot stop it. Nothing beats a personal choice because it is implicitly driven.

    Reference:
    http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/sugar-substitutes-honey-explained

  23. Joi Mirdanne Dumaoang says:

    1. Yes, sugar should be regulated.

    2. The following are the solutions discussed by the group to regulate the amount of sugar:

    a. Limit the production and importation of sugar cane.

    b. Give incentives/subsidies to the producers of sugarless and sugar-free products.

    c. Implement a “sin” tax on sugar (white and brown). The most commonly used types of sugar for market goods are white sugar and brown sugar. A tax placed on top of these sugars will cause producers to raise prices and therefore affect the demand for sugary products as well.

    d. Sugar-related diseases such as diabetes and other side effects of sugar should be included in health education.

    e. There should be graphical warnings on the basic sugar product like the ones in cigarettes.

    f. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should set a limit of sugar content on products and if the amount of sugar in the product exceeded the limit, the FDA should reject any product that goes beyond the limit.

    3. After proposing six solutions on the regulation of sugar, the group decided that the best and most practical way to do so is to implement a sin tax on sugar. With this, there would be an increase in price, thus affecting the demand for sugar and sugar-containing products.

  24. Joi Mirdanne Dumaoang says:

    STS THX GROUP 4

    1. Yes, sugar should be regulated.

    2. The following are the solutions discussed by the group to regulate the amount of sugar:

    a. Limit the production and importation of sugar cane.

    b. Give incentives/subsidies to the producers of sugarless and sugar-free products.

    c. Implement a “sin” tax on sugar (white and brown). The most commonly used types of sugar for market goods are white sugar and brown sugar. A tax placed on top of these sugars will cause producers to raise prices and therefore affect the demand for sugary products as well.

    d. Sugar-related diseases such as diabetes and other side effects of sugar should be included in health education.

    e. There should be graphical warnings on the basic sugar product like the ones in cigarettes.

    f. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should set a limit of sugar content on products and if the amount of sugar in the product exceeded the limit, the FDA should reject any product that goes beyond the limit.

    3. After proposing six solutions on the regulation of sugar, the group decided that the best and most practical way to do so is to implement a sin tax on sugar. With this, there would be an increase in the price of sugar, thus affecting the demand for sugar and sugar-containing products.

  25. Kim Diet says:

    STS THX
    Group 20

    1. Yes, we want to regulate the intake of sugar.

    2. Proposed solutions on how to regulate sugar:
    – Conduct seminars per barangay to discuss the detrimental effects of consuming too much sugar
    – Allow and encourage individuals to have blood sugar check-ups per barangay. This should be well-regulated as well for children in their respective school clinics
    – Add warning notes/labels on sugar and sugar products (similar to the warnings written on cigarette packs)
    – Impose a sin tax on sugar
    – Create incentives for companies that use sugar as a main ingredient in their products to produce “lite” or “sugar-free” versions (e.g, soda & juice manufacturers)
    – Raise awareness and on natural substitutes for sugar (e.g, stevia, date sugar, honey, coconut sugar) via social media campaigns and make them more accessible in groceries, sari-sari stores, etc
    – Implement stricter laws on the production of sugary goods by imposing a ceiling for manufacturers of these products (e.g, candy, beer, soda, etc)
    – Promote rice cooker brands (e.g, Grayns) that remove the excess sugar while cooking any type of grain since Filipinos consume large amounts of white rice, which contains high sugar levels

    3. The most feasible proposal
    We believe that the most practical and efficient solution to carry out on a national scale would be the implementation of sin tax on sugar. Since Filipinos purchase sugar in bulk, they may unconsciously consume a larger amount of sugar than intended. By increasing prices on sugar, which will also affect products that have it as a main ingredient, the quantity demanded of it will eventually lessen. People will then resort to finding cheaper alternatives such as honey, coconut sugar, etc., which should then be promoted and made more available to consumers even in sari sari stores.

  26. idellesablay says:

    STS WFX

    Group 11

    1) Yes, we will regulate sugar.

    2) We mainly suggest to promote sugar level awareness/ healthy sugar level intake among
    students in schools through efforts such as: implementing low-sugar menu plan for canteen’s
    dishes, no selling of soft drinks and sweet junk foods, etc. . The easiest way for this to be
    implemented in our country is through a DepEd and DOH program.

    We also suggest other ways to regulate sugar :
    a. Promote use of alternative natural sweeteners
    b. Require food manufacturers to put visuals on their products’ packaging showing the amount of sugar in the product

    3) This could be implemented because it has the help of Government agencies, so it will be more authoritative when it comes to information dissemination about the program which could encourage the people to follow it. Other reason is that schools especially public schools have nutrition/health initiatives which makes it easier to integrate with. Starting the program in learning institutions will most likely make the campaign progressive unlike companies or restaurants where people would not even consider to do the initiative.

  27. Christian Paul P. Ebora says:

    STS THX Group 7

    1. Yes. Given that too much consumption of sugar can lead to various illnesses such as diabetes, we should regulate its consumption.

    2.
    • Increase the price of foods with high sugar content.
    • Tax foods that are considered luxury items, such as, chocolates, ice cream, etc.
    • Fund researches on the use of safe and healthier alternative for table sugar.
    • Implement a mandatory exercise program.
    • Implement a Graphics Health Warning Law on packs of sugar and foods with high sugar content.
    • Increase the price of foods with high sugar content especially those products who uses alternative sugars such as soft drinks (Coke-Zero).
    • Schools should monitor their school canteen menu items to regulate sugar intake of students.

    3. The most practical one is by implementing a price increase. Because the other regulations raised by our group is just an effect of the price increase. Imposing a price increase disencourage people to consume a lot of sugar.

  28. Kimberly Pagunaling says:

    Group 1
    THX

    1. Would you regulate sugar?
    Yes

    2. What measure would you suggest?

    a.Tax on Sugar
    Imposing Tax on sugar can be implemented by adding tax depending on the quantity of the sugar in a product. The higher the quantity the higher the tax. This can help to regulate the consumption of sugar which are added to products.

    b.Limit the import of sugar goods (chocolates, sweets, etc)
    By limiting the importation of sugar goods, there will be less sugar products available to the market. This will eventually minimize the sugar intake per person.

    c. Grocery – Limit per person to buy sweets
    This might be a hard-rule, but with proper implementation and execution, this aims towards a healthier community.

    d. National food regulation – limit the sugar content per food
    Not only on the consumers’ side, but sugar could also be regulated on the producers’ side as well. Sugar content of fruit juices, junk foods, sweets, etc, should be subjected to the

    e. Brown sugar only
    Unlike white sugar, Brown or raw sugar is more healthier than the refined one. It contains more minerals which helps the body to produce energy. Also, the taste of raw sugar is more flavorful and distinct rather than the refined one.

    f. Ban Corn Syrup
    Corn syrup is easier and cheaper to produce but according to studies, the high fructose corn syrup are not biochemically identical or not processed the same way by the body. It can lead to different diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart problems, etc.

    g. Raise awareness on Diabetes and other health problems with excessive sugar intake
    According to International Diabetes Federation, in 2010, Philippines ranked 15 in the diabetes hot spots across the world and the numbers are still getting higher and higher and the age group is getting younger and younger. By raising awareness on Diabetes, with the help of the government, the numbers should be lowered and people who are living with diabetes should know how to limit sugar and food intake and influence others by sharing their knowledge.

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    Among these, the most practical solution will be increasing tax for sugar. This is the easiest to be implemented, and could be a start towards the other solutions that we have proposed. With this, we may begin to start raising awareness in terms of the health effects of sugar when explaining to people why sugar tax was increased.

  29. mixque818 says:

    STS GROUP 1 (Abarico, Batac, Crisostomo, Ferrer, Latagan, Manzanares, Palo, Que, Silapan, Vitug | WFX 2:30-4:00)

    1) Would you regulate sugar?
    -No, we (the state) won’t regulate sugar by controlling or manipulating the production of sugar factories. We think that the issue on sugar addiction is an issue of addictive behavior rather than an issue of an addictive substance. However, we do recognize the need to address the negative effect of sugar addiction/dependence. In line with this, we think the most effective way to tackle this is to affect the demand for sugar by targeting consumers instead of the producers.

    2) What measure/s would you suggest?
    Sugar, despite its negative effects is still a necessary part of the diet. Sugar or refined sugar is one of the most common sources of glucose which is needed by the body. The issue on addiction then becomes a responsibility of the consumer. Because of this, one of the measures we would want to pursue is multiple campaigns directed at raising awareness about the effects of too much consumption of sugar. (a) Part of this multifaceted campaign would be to require public schools to include a session on the dangers of excessive sugar consumption as part of their physical education & health classes. (b) Along side the changes in curriculum, we would also run adverts and use infographics on social media and traditional media regarding the proper consumption of sugar and the dangers one might face with overconsumption. (c) One of the measures would be to require establishments to state the sugar content of products that are known for having high sugar content (ie: one large coke has x grams of sugar). (d) In line with targeting consumers, we would also want local government units to hold kapihan sessions or open forums about proper diet and wellness. (e) Lastly, we would also want to promote the use of “healthier” alternatives such as muscovado sugar or brown sugar.

    3) Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    We think that sugar is something that is so engrained in our culture and lifestyle that banning or restricting it might adversely affect our society as a whole. Because of this, we think that slowly easing society away from overconsumption of sugar is the best approach to the issue. All of the measures that we proposed aren’t attacking any actor in particular and so we think that we would experience less opposition in implementing these policies and might help in avoiding any issues within the bureaucracy.

  30. Elyssa Mariel T. Mores says:

    GROUP 8 WFX

    1.) Yes, because it poses health risks – therefore sugar should be considered a controlled substance.

    2.) Our measures are:
    a.) Soft drinks ban on schools
    b.) Sugar-free option as alternative on food
    c.) Awareness campaign regarding sugar (i.e. included in the curriculum of high schools)
    d.) Limited sugar content in restaurants
    e.) Free mandatory sugar level monitoring every 6 weeks

    3.) As a measure for sugar regulation, we would like to impose a free mandatory sugar level monitoring every 6 weeks, and it would be a project of the government. According to the documentary, sugar is very addictive so it would be difficult for people to cut-back sugar consumption. However, we could not ask for the sugar producers to produce less sugar since they would be disincentivized and their goal of profit maximization would not be achieved. That is why we would regulate sugar consumption through the demand side by raising awareness to the consumers.

    Through this measure, people would be more aware of their health status as well as their sugar intake. It would also be easier for people to detect potential health problems thus it could be addressed immediately. By knowing their own sugar level, people would be motivated to cut down their sugar intake if it’s too much for their body.

    Bottomline: It would raise awareness about sugar and the health risks it could bring forth to a person thus reducing and regulating sugar consumption.

  31. Kimberly Pagunaling says:

    Group 1
    THX

    1. Would you regulate sugar?
    Yes

    2. What measure would you suggest?

    a. Tax on Sugar
    Imposing Tax on sugar can be implemented by adding tax depending on the quantity of the sugar in a product. The higher the quantity the higher the tax. This can help to regulate the consumption of sugar which are added to products.

    b. Limit the import of sugar goods (chocolates, sweets, etc)
    By limiting the importation of sugar goods, there will be less sugar products available to the market. This will eventually minimize the sugar intake per person.

    c. Grocery – Limit per person to buy sweets
    This might be a hard-rule, but with proper implementation and execution, this aims towards a healthier community.

    d. National food regulation – limit the sugar content per food
    Not only on the consumers’ side, but sugar could also be regulated on the producers’ side as well.

    e. Brown sugar only
    Unlike white sugar, Brown or raw sugar is more healthier than the refined one. It contains more minerals which helps the body to produce energy. Also, the taste of raw sugar is more flavorful and distinct rather than the refined one.

    f. Ban Corn Syrup
    Corn syrup is easier and cheaper to produce but according to studies, the high fructose corn syrup are not biochemically identical or not processed the same way by the body. It can lead to different diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart problems, etc.

    g. Raise awareness on Diabetes and other health problems with excessive sugar intake
    According to International Diabetes Federation, in 2010, Philippines ranked 15 in the diabetes hots pots across the world and the numbers are still getting higher and higher and the age group is getting younger and younger. By raising awareness on Diabetes, with the help of the government, the numbers should be lowered and people who are living with diabetes should know how to limit sugar and food intake and influence others by sharing their knowledge.

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    Among these, the most practical solution will be increasing tax for sugar. This is the easiest to be implemented, and could be a start towards the other solutions that we have proposed. With this, we may begin to start raising awareness in terms of the health effects of sugar when explaining to people why sugar tax was increased.

  32. STS WFX Group 19 says:

    STS WFX 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
    Group 19
    September 9, 2016

    Should sugar be regulated?
    No, sugar shouldn’t be regulated.

    Regulating sugar consumption isn’t practical
    1. One can’t expect every person to be disciplined enough to actually follow the regulation on sugar consumption, if ever it will be regulated. It is also impossible to monitor the sugar intake of all the people.
    2. Each body works differently, and because of this, the amount of sugar that a human needs varies from time to time.
    3. Everyone has the freedom to choose what to eat, and how much to eat. It is really up to the person, to his or her knowledge, whether or not to lessen the consumption of sugar in his or her diet, depending on his or her activities, and/or medical conditions.
    4. In addition to the third reason, sugar isn’t inherently bad since glucose is the primary source of energy, but it could potentially cause harm with too much consumption.
    5. There are also cases wherein immediate consumption of sugar is needed, such as when someone’s blood sugar suddenly drops (hypoglycemia). Regulating sugar could possibly hinder one from accessing it promptly, and could thus not allow immediate medical attention.

    Regulating sugar production isn’t practical
    1. Regulating sugar also affects the producers of products with sugar in them as once sugar is regulated, producers would look for alternative products to substitute the sugar with, and would then affect the supply chain.
    2. The supply and demand of products with sugar in them may also be affected, and could lead to businesses shutting down, as well as unemployment, as the cost for sugar goes up, the demand would go down.
    3. In addition to the second reason, as businesses die out, so do the cultural aspects of it as some cultures have a history with sweets.
    4. Other factors for a healthier lifestyle may be better regulated such as exercising, and drinking enough water daily.
    5. It also discourages other people such as the lower class, who would usually buy foods high in sugar and carbohydrates as these foods are those that are within their budget, and once sugar is regulated, they then must look for other other products which may cost more than what they can afford.

  33. Angela Tullo says:

    STS WFX Group 13
    (Antonio, Ching, Elman, Herbosa, Macasaet, Olivar, Pimentel, Sandiego, Tullo)

    1. Should sugar be regulated?

    Yes, we believe sugar should be regulated. Looking at our culture, mainly evident in the food we eat such as the delicacies we Filipinos love so much, we can say that sugar has a secured place in our daily consumption. It is a much needed ingredient most of us cannot live without. In fact, it has become a necessity to the point that most of us choose to risk our health than to give it up. According to an article by Inquirer Lifestyle, the Philippines has become a diabetes hotspot, with the number of people diagnosed with diabetes growing at an alarming rate as the years progress. Given this fact, we believe that it’s about time we take concrete measures to regulate sugar with the hope that it will decrease prevalence of the disease.

    2. What measures will you take in regulating sugar? Propose possible solutions.

    a. Partner with institutions like NEDA to create a government policy that shall implement taxation on products that highly use sugar such as fruit juices, chocolates, etc.
    b. Institutionalize a regulatory board to oversee sugar production and distribution in the market.
    c. With the help of DepEd, we could further disseminate information about sugar consumption and its repercussions on our health by holding seminars in schools or by including this subject matter in the syllabus for health classes. Information could also be disseminated through various forms of media (e.g. commercials, infographics, advertisements).
    d. Spread awareness about proper nourishment to household heads through a Nutrition Caravan. Aside from distributing primers on how to be healthy, with the aid of DOH, we could also give away free sugar-level regulating medicines.
    e. Encourage our farmers to plant healthier varieties of sugar (like coconut sugar) and promote said product to the public.

    3. Justify why these are practical steps.

    Our proposed solutions aim to involve different kinds of institutions, from those with authority and power to the Filipino family itself. We believe that addressing the issue of sugar regulation would be more effective by using both large scale and small scale methods and by tackling the problem in various perspectives such as agricultural, economical, educational.

  34. STS GROUP 18 WF (2:30-4 PM)

    Regulation means subjecting sugar production/consumption toa set of rules, systems and/or laws. For us, we should NOT regulate sugar.

    Why?

    1) Sugar is ubiquitous in a Filipino diet. It’s an ingredient even in basic foods that we need.
    2) Sugar, when taken in moderation, is actually healthy as it gives us energy
    3) Salt addiction is a more grievous problem and thus, more potent for regulation than sugar.
    4) Specifically, taxation may not induce consumers to lessen sugar consumption. Although higher prices can reduce sugar consumption, price elasticity for sugar is relatively inelastic across income levels. Taxation is not entirely effective for inelastic products because consumption is cut only by a small amount. Thus…
    5) What we need are information dissemination programs. More initiatives should be undertaken to inform the public of the possible health threats caused by excessive sugar intake
    6) On the production side, regulating sugar may hurt small sugar companies. Taxes can massively hurt farmers and small sugar companies.
    7) What we can do instead is to encourage competition through giving incentives to firms producing alternatives to sugar such as honey

  35. STS WFX Group 10
    (Domingo, Tañedo, Anasarias, Mabus, Nuñez, Perez, Caparros, Sabban, Guevarra)

    1. Should sugar be regulated?

    Yes.

    2. What measures will you take in regulating sugar? Propose possible solutions.

    Mandatory Graphic Representation of the product’s Sugar Content

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?

    Along with other regulatory methods (e.g. sugar tax, awareness campaigns, etc.), we generally agree that it would help to require companies that sell sugar-containing products to include in their product’s packaging a graphic representation of the truthful, accurate, and verifiable amount of sugar that their products contain (example: illustration of a bottle of soda showing sugar filling half or 50% of the bottle). This idea was inspired by cigarette packs being sold with pictures of body parts disfigured by excessive smoking. In contrast to the idea of these cigarette packs, however, we realize that including pictures of blackened teeth or enlarged bellies in sugar-containing products (which make up almost everything we eat or drink) may incite too much unnecessary fear of sugar (or simply incite laughter) and may therefore prioritize awareness of the bad effects of sugar over its good effects. Consequently, too much emphasis on the bad effects of sugar will certainly affect our country’s sugar industry. Aside from this, we recognize the fact that the numbers shown in Nutritional Facts tables pose little, if not negligible, significance to most consumers; pictures, on the other hand, can more effectively bring across to consumers what they need to know about the products they buy.

  36. Group 20 WFX says:

    STS WFX
    Group 20

    In terms of sugar, our group reached a consensus on regulating it both in the macro and micro levels. In achieving this goal of sugar regulation, the most practical measure that we think is educating the public regarding the benefits and consequences of its intake and consumption. We think this is the most practical way in attaining the optimum because educating the public encompasses almost (if not all) of the aspects that is in sugar, from macro to micro level. In the macro level comes the role of the government in implementing policies. The implementation will come from the national government to local government units. When we say local government units, we are talking about barangays for the projects to be more on hand. They can conduct seminars, they can give pamphlets, they can post infographics and a lot more for a more comprehensive and information rich programs. We also considered the role of educational institutions however the measure would not be effective because of out of school citizens.

    Through educating the public, people would know what is the proper diet appropriate to their body types and daily activities. In addition, people would be enlightened on what are the features of a healthy and unhealthy lifestyle. These are dealings on the part of the citizens, or the part of the consumers. On the part of the manufacturers, government can implement laws regarding proper labeling of products. Producers would be obliged to put calorie and sugar contents on the packing of sugar-containing products. In this way, people would be knowledgeable on how much sugar they are consuming. Other regulations that the government could implement would be using low calorie sweeteners as alternative in sugar rich food. But then again, these measures that the administration could implement would not be effective if the individuals do not know the pros and cons of consuming sugar thus the need for proper education. So in a way, education should be the priority for a successful sugar regulation.

  37. Ma. Joshel Quizon says:

    STS WFX Group 3 (WF 2:30-2:00)

    YES
    Though sugar is essential, get nutritionist/ dietician research for better health.

    A. General regulation of upstream industry
    -Enforce policies on limiting the distribution in the local market
    -Focus sugar trade to export
    – policy -> companies -> public
    -alternatives to conventional sugar
    -area specific Negros->surrounding regions

    B. Practice in schools
    -sugar consciousness starts at a young age
    -makes lifestyle shift easier
    -learned habits

    C. Standardizing of sugar percentage in products
    -training of taste buds
    -PACKAGING MAKEOVER: how much intake/day, set it in layman’s terms

    D. Partnership with Public Heath Orgs, NGO’s, hospitals
    -reaching out in a microlevel
    -advertise ex. Ambassador
    -Diabetes Awareness

    E. Coconut sugar and/or honey as an Alternative/s
    -Feasible because of the current coconut industry in PH

  38. STS WFX GROUP 2 says:

    STS WFX GRP 2

    I. Yes to regulations

    II. Regulations:

    1. Ban of softdrinks and candies (in stores at schools and hospitals) students will also be banned from bringing softdrinks in schools
    2. Warning labels on products with sugar
    3. Food nutrition education (which also includes checking of family history)
    4. Implementation of sin tax on sugar products
    5. Disclaimer on TV ads (warning audience about the side effects of too much sugar intake)

    III. Justifications for why these regulations are ideal:

    1. Schools are the foundation of learning it’s also a place wherein you can teach children not to develop a certain lifestyle
    2. This discourages buyers and raises awareness on the sugar content and its effects
    3. It will inform children at a young age the bad effects of eating too much sugar, and will also encourage them to live a healthy lifestyle
    4. This creates an incentive for consumers to refrain from buying too much sugar (to consume only what is only needed)
    5. This discourages the audience and educates them on the effects of too much sugar intake

  39. Ma. Christina Beatrice F. Lopez-Tan says:

    GROUP 5 WFX
    Members: Lopez-Tan, Garcia, Betancor, Delgado, Mirando, Patangan, Rasco, Tai, Dela Cruz, Aguilar

    1. Would you regulate sugar? YES

    2. What measure would you suggest?
    A. On Consumption
    – Minimize Level of Sugar on Dishes: Limit the sugar content on dishes being served in various restaurants according to the recommended intake by nutritionists
    – Seek Other Types of Sugar Used in Cooking: Opt to use alternative forms of sweeteners or “healthier” sugars such as brown sugar, muscovado, honey, etc

    B. On Production
    – Seek Alternative forms: Find a more natural alternative of sugar that is affordable and cheaper
    – Limit Volume: 50% of sugar production reduction for next 6 months, 50% production of new alternative

    C. On Imports
    – Minimize Quota: Imposing a quota on sugarcane importation would reduce the amount of sugar created/refined
    – Impost Higher Tariffs on Sugar Products: Imposing higher tariffs on products high on sugar (e.g. chocolates, candies etc.) will increase the price of the products which in turn will make them more of a luxury than a need

    D. Establish an Awareness Campaign
    – Establish a Sin Tax: To impose a tax fee for sugar consumption like that for cigarettes and alcohol
    – Produce Infomercials – Visual Awareness Campaign: Posters and publication material on the harmful effects of sugar (e.g Diabetes)

    E. Enhanced Nutritional Education
    – Medicine/Prevention for High Blood Sugar: Research on therapeutics, biologic or other treatments to lower blood sugar levels or prevent increase in blood sugar
    – Educate people on how to improve their overall nutritional health by promoting good diet habits

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    Of the 5 measures we suggested, we believe that enhancing nutritional education could be effectively implemented since it can be more easily inserted in current school curriculums thus requiring no major capital investment or changes in Philippine law. At the same time, it also has more long-term benefits since it does not merely focus on reducing sugar consumption but rather how to develop good health habits at an early age.

  40. Michael Angelo Patrick C. Cohen says:

    STS WFX Group 16

    1. Yes. Our group agrees that sugar should be regulated through doable means, due to its possible consequences to public health as shown in the video. In particular, our group agrees that regulation for refined sugar consumption should be done.

    2. The following regulation policies are suggested:
    A. Regulation via DFA Accreditation – studies can be done in cooperation with Philippine government agencies to regulate maximum sugar content per food product, and to retain it as import requirement for all sugar-containing food imports.
    B. Imposition of excise tax on refined sugar – food high in sugar content can be taxed rather heavily, similar to the sin tax on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, in order to discourage the purchasing of high-sugar content food products, and the production thereof. Proceeds from this can be used by the DOH to further an information campaign about the facts relevant to the dangers of diseases caused by food high in processed sugar.
    C. Legislation of exercise/health obligations of citizens – similar to Japan where people can be penalised for being obese, the Philippines could adopt a policy that requires its citizens to follow health guidelines such as exercise, BMI, and diet, among others. Alongside this would be a government information campaign on how to attain such requirements, and the benefits of following them.
    D. Modernisation of sugar plantations – to increase the production of export quality raw sugar material, and to combat the would-be rising cost of sugar upon the imposition of excise taxes on locally consumed high sugar foods.
    E. Packaging policies (putting graphic images and government health warnings on high-sugar containing product packaging) – this is already done for consumer products that are generally agreed upon as health hazards, such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, especially in high amounts. Packaging of these products may be put in with warnings about the dangers of high-sugar food, through text or graphic images.

    3. We believe that amongst these suggestions, the imposition of excise tax is most viable. Sin tax is already implemented on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, which gives the policy a precursor on its implementation and the extent thereof. However, due to the extensive pervasiveness of refined sugar in most food products, the level/s of taxation should be defined, which can be done better by health experts and producers of such products. In addition, some countries around the world such as Canada and Denmark are already imposing these taxes or are in the process of crafting mechanisms for its implementation, which would allow the Philippines to follow an existent model for taxing foods high in processed sugar. Since the additional taxes can be directed into the DOH budget, research and information dissemination would also be sustainable without much added cost to the government, as many high-sugar products are bound to be still widely purchased immediately after legislation. The benefit of this would be a culture of awareness about the dangers of processed sugar, and perhaps by extension, other food additives in daily-consumed food products.

  41. STS WFX (2:30-4:00) Group 4

    1. Should sugar be regulated?
    Yes – regulation of sugar intake from individual to societal consumption.

    Why?
    Too much intake leads to harmful effects to the body. For example,
    a. one of the causes of diabetes, obesity, tooth decay/cavities
    b. drastic effect on children’s nutrition
    c. risk of developing an obsession for sugar

    sources:
    >Avena, N. M., Rada, P. & Hoebel, B. G. (2008).
    Evidence for sugar addiction: Behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 32(1), 20-39. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.04.019
    >Katie. (2016). The Harmful Effects of Sugar. Retrieved from http://wellnessmama.com/15/harmful-effects-of-sugar/

    2. What measures can be taken to regulate sugar?
    a. increase tax on production and consumption
    b. reintroduce sugar as a commodity of the government (monopolisation of sugar)
    c. set limit on sugar percentages allowed on foods sold + provide products with more informative ‘Nutrition Facts’ (inclusion of pictures portraying consequences of immoderation, like in cigarette packs)
    d. create awareness programs, free check-ups (by the government) using the taxes collected from sugar production and consumption
    e. media regulation on ads glorifying sugar + publicity for agenda such as in d

    3. Why is this solution reasonable?
    a. generates funds which the government can use to create wellness programs
    b. utilizes media (especially social media, which nowadays is easily accessible to anyone) to promote wellness programs and awareness in general
    c. limitations on allowed sugar consumption enforces regulation of its intake

  42. Paolo Bito says:

    STS WFX Group 6

    1. Would you regulate sugar?
    YES

    2. What measure would you suggest?
    a. A good measure to address this is to have an alternative for the products that is composed mostly of sugar, and to lower its cost.
    b. Implement Sweet Tax; The idea of this law is just like Sin Tax.
    c. Infographics/Campaign against the excessive use of Sugar
    d. Limit the sugar content for each product
    e. Educate the sugar users properly

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    Less sugar or no sugar alternatives for sugary products are already implemented, but people still prefer the latter because it’s less expensive than the former. An additional and healthier choice will be able to regulate the sugar of most people because it’s better if the intake of sugar will still depend on the person.

  43. Jochelle Joyce Magboo says:

    STS WFX GROUP 17

    1. Yes
    2 & 3.

    A. Price control
    — Sugar is one of the main products of the country. Its production is substantial to maintain the country’s economic stability. However, the surplus in sugar production poses a threat to the population’s health through massive productions of countless sugar-containing products with high levels of sugar content, levels more than an individual should intake. Thus, in order to regulate the sugar production locally, the government must assert control on prices of sugar-containing products. The price control policy on sugar products is same with the current policies on tobacco and alcohol products. With this price control, producers and manufacturers of sugar-containing products will be discouraged to increase the sugar content levels of their products.

    B. Labeling products with warnings concerning health
    — Like the policy on tobacco and alcohol products, labels such as “too much sugar intake is dangerous to your health” will be put on sugar products. This measure to regulate the sugar intake of the population will be effective because consumers will not only be aware that too much intake of sugar poses health threat, but they will also be notified that the products with those labels contain high levels of sugar contents. In effect, this labeling policy will discourage consumers from buying products with high sugar levels.

    C. Increasing awareness through advertisements
    — Advertisements about health problems caused by too much sugar intake will also be effective. Since there are already warnings from these advertisements, people will be aware of the consequences. The advertisements will serve as a legitimate call for awareness.

    D) Schools discouraging products with too much sugar content
    — Since the school is where a child first learns not only Math and Science, but also Health, it will be effective if the child is exposed at an early age to the different health threats posed by too much sugar intake. If the school implements strict policies on the prohibition of the sale of junk foods and high sugar-containing products such as sodas, softdrinks, candies, etc., by canteens and food establishments, the child will develop an awareness of avoiding the products mentioned above, and learning to have a healthy lifestyle.

    E) Government support for companies and producers selling products with lower sugar levels than normal
    — Once the government shows support for food companies and sugar producers putting effort in minimizing the sugar contents of their products, many others will aim to produce products with minimum levels of sugar. Thus, there will be some sort of competition for the aid offered by the government among them.

  44. Rizel Garcia says:

    STS THX Group 16

    1. Would you regulate sugar?
    YES

    2. What measure would you suggest?
    a. Warning label law
    b. Consumption tax
    c. Restrict private sale or purchase
    d. Subsidize alternatives
    e. Regulatory framework for distribution
    f. Sugar content ceiling
    g. Perfect information
    h. Internalizing the externality

    3. Why do you think this could be effectively implemented?
    We would highly suggest the warning label law similar to what is practiced now for cigarettes. This will increase the awareness of the consumers of the consequences of taking too much sugar. Also, most people right now are “to see is to believe” so as long as a person or anyone he knows hasn’t suffered with the negative effect of the product, the person will continue to consume the product. Although, this will not have the highest consumption change for sugar, it is the most reasonable for consumption of goods are not easy to change or manipulate. Sugar is becoming one of the leading ingredients of most of the goods we consume today therefore no matter the sudden change in prices, the demand for the good will not vary as much. If we apply such sudden change for prices or the distribution of sugar, this will just have a short term effect for we are not changing the perspective people have towards sugar, we are just restricting them through authority which cannot be sustained for a long term. Our priority now is to change the perspective of people towards sugar and let them know the possible consequences for overconsumption that may lead to their own change of lifestyle.

    • Bianca Pleyto says:

      CORRECTION: Changing “Group 7” to “Group 13”

      “Anything lacking or in excess can and is most likely harmful– if not harmful, disadvantageous in one way or another. This is the reason why everything should be taken in moderation– sugar included. Too much sugar leads to an imbalance in the human body, directly leading to diseases such as diabetes or possibly putting on unhealthy weight, indirectly leading to other problems such as an increased risk for heart attacks or strokes. Put in other words, it is highly encouraged that sugar intake be regulated.

      One way to regulate the aforementioned is by limiting access to such a product. A ceiling on how much sugar companies can produce annually can be implemented; imposition of a tax increase for vendors who import the product, as well as a syntax on the commercial sale of sugar itself may help too.

      Spreading awareness is another way to help regulate sugar intake. Learning about the harmful effects of excessive sugar intake within the institutional curriculum can raise awareness at an early stage. Using layman’s terms for nutritional facts helps inform and caution people on what they might ingest in their body. Lastly, and with careful consideration, the most practical way to contribute to the issue at hand is by creating infographics.

      Infographics are a great way of relaying relevant information. By presenting facts in an ingenious and innovative manner, it calls the attention of one ordinary individual. Infographics can be used to show sugar intake in each meal, or better, to show sugar intake and its potentially harmful effects on the actual packaging of food and/or drinks itself.”

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