Media Forum Dissects: Diabetes, Obesity, and the Sweetened Beverage Tax
Pandesal Forum on Diabetes Prevention, (L-R) UP Prof. Hercules Callanta, AIM Dr. John Paul Rivera, DOST FNRI Senior Science Research Specialist Chona Patalen, Pandesal Forum moderator Wilson Lee Flores. Photo by Nilo Odiaman A media forum held in the 84-year-old Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City discussed the proposal to increase the excise tax on sweetened beverages. Called the “Pandesal Forum,” the event welcomed health and economic experts to dissect the issue, citing recent available data on diabetes and obesity rates in the Philippines as sources. The forum sought to understand why diabetes and obesity rates in the country continue to rise despite efforts to reduce consumption of sweetened beverages through the excise tax. The panel of experts invited to the forum included Chona Patalen, Senior Science Research Specialist from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). According to data from the FNRI, the per capita consumpt