2025-11-26

Government agencies, researchers, civil society leaders, and global partners met at Seda Manila Bay for the SHAPE Asia Policy Lab, a landmark gathering focused on transforming how food is sold and marketed in the Philippines.

Hosted by SHAPE Asia (Shaping Healthy Asian Food Systems and Policy Environments), the high-level policy dialogue, entitled "Shaping Food Environments: Policy Dialogues on Food Retail and Marketing in the Philippines," brought together key actors to chart a path toward healthier food environments, especially in the face of rising obesity, undernutrition, and diet-related diseases in the country.

"This is a rare opportunity for a direct, solutions-focused dialogue between researchers, government agencies, and advocates," said Dr. Elaine Borazon, SHAPE Asia Project Lead and Associate Professor of the International Graduate Program of Education and Human Development at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU). "We want to shift the conversation toward meaningful policy change."

Dr. Borazon emphasized that SHAPE Asia's mission is to amplify and support the ongoing work of Philippine agencies, especially in food retail and marketing policy. "Our focus for the first two years is to collaborate with the local government and stakeholders on evidence-based solutions that can be scaled nationally," she added.

Participants agreed on the need to create supportive environments that make nutritious food more accessible and affordable. Government partners presented ongoing policies and programs aligned with SHAPE Asia's objectives, including technical support for local governments and updated dietary guidance tools.

A key reflection came from Quezon City's presentation: "We are integrating nutrition standards with local farmer support. We are open to more regulation of food retail," said Jai Sideco from the Quezon City Health Department. "We need research on how food marketing affects consumption, especially among children."

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) raised concerns about the gendered impact of healthy food policies. "The impact of making food healthier affects women. In the retail industry, most vendors are women. Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority, 60% of new business name registrations are in women's names," a PCW representative stated. They urged policymakers to ensure that reforms support women-led small businesses. 

Madiha Ahmed, Senior Program Specialist at Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), shared insights from similar efforts in other regions. "The challenges you're discussing today echo what we're hearing across Southeast Asia, South Asia, even Africa and Latin America," she said. "It's both a little worrying and a little reassuring that we're facing many of the same obstacles, but at the same time, we know from our experience in other regions, change is possible when we come together."

Stakeholders discussed pilot initiatives for 2026, including strengthening local procurement, enhancing nutrition education, embedding nutrition professionals in local systems, and consolidating existing national policies for clearer implementation at the community level.

Rather than calling for new policies, one participant emphasized the importance of coordination: "We don't necessarily need to create new policies. We need to disseminate, consolidate, and monitor the ones we already have."

SHAPE Asia operates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, promoting double-duty actions that address both undernutrition and non-communicable diseases. "Our role is to be a platform and amplifier," Dr. Borazon said in closing. "We want to harmonize and support what each of you is already doing. We can build food environments that are equitable, sustainable, and healthy for all Filipinos together."

Representatives participated from the Department of Health (DOH), National Nutrition Council (NNC), Food and Nutrition Research Institute–DOST, UNICEF, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), UN World Food Programme, non-government organizations, professional associations, and local governments, including Quezon City and Pasay.

SHAPE Asia platform information:
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