This proposed measure aims to curb the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers in the Philippines, affecting millions of lives each year, HPA said in a news release.

During the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their commitment to combating NCDs, the Alliance, joined by former Department of Health Secretary and HPA Lead Convenor Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, urged lawmakers to prioritize policies that empower Filipino consumers to make healthier dietary choices.

On World Food Day, Dr. Galvez Tan stressed that “NCDs drain patients by trapping them in long-term treatment,” which impacts their ability to contribute productively to society and threatens the quality of life of every Filipino.

A 2024 Social Weather Stations survey indicates that 62% of Filipinos believe food warning labels, especially the black octagonal labels indicating health risks, clearly highlight the dangers of unhealthy food. Another 66% of Filipinos would support a policy mandating such labels on processed foods with high sugar, salt, and fat content.

Data from UNICEF also reveal that 74% of Filipino youth aged 13 to 15 consume fewer than three servings of vegetables daily, while 38% drink sugary soft drinks regularly. NCDs currently account for 70% of deaths in the Philippines, demonstrating a critical need for intervention.

Dr. Galvez Tan further expressed that if the nation fails to act now, “we will suffer in the future…We demand our policymakers and legislators to have the moral imperative to accelerate implementation of policies that will address the burden of NCDs. We support one of the best solutions, which is food warning labels.”

HPA’s campaign is part of a broader effort in partnership with HealthJustice Philippines and ImagineLaw to promote front-of-pack labeling. By focusing on ultra-processed foods, the organizations believe these labels could help Filipinos make healthier choices more easily.

According to HPA, current back-of-pack nutritional labels, while useful, do not effectively discourage unhealthy food consumption, as many consumers overlook or misunderstand them.

Latin American countries such as Chile, Mexico, and Peru have seen reductions in the consumption of sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks since implementing food warning labels. Drawing inspiration from these countries, the HPA believes that a similar approach in the Philippines would empower Filipinos to protect their health more proactively.

Alyannah Lagasca, the lead convenor of the HPA Youth Network, noted the connection between physical and mental health, saying that adopting healthier habits could also help young people avoid harmful coping mechanisms.

“For the youth, mental and physical health are interconnected. Sometimes when we are faced with challenges, we take on unhealthy coping mechanisms…The time to lead was yesterday,” Lagasca noted, urging that each delay in action on NCDs represents a “wasted opportunity.”

As the HPA champions this cause, they hope it will spark change and address the health crisis head-on, paving the way for a healthier generation equipped to make informed choices for their well-being.

With Diabetes Mellitus being the leading cause¹ of peripheral neuropathy (PN), the increasing prevalence of PN is closely linked to the rise in the number of diabetic patients. PN including Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is the result of damage to the nerves impacting quality of life of people as they are not able to go about their daily lives as comfortably. Burning and stabbing pain in the feet and hands can have a significant impact on the activities of daily living, including walking, climbing stairs, and sleeping. Peripheral neuropathy is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness amongst both patients and physicians². Besides diabetes mellitus, B vitamins deficiencies and aging are other high-risk factors leading to peripheral nerve damage.

Dr Ashley Barlow, Senior Director, Medical & Technical Affairs, P&G Health (Asia Pacific, India, Middle East, and Africa) shared, “As a partner to International Diabetes Federation (IDF), P&G Health is committed to continued efforts to raise awareness on Diabetes and its associated complications including Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Damage. The ‘Winning the Fight Against Neuropathy in Diabetic Patients’ forum is the first of several scientific forums being rolled out by P&G Health as part of our World Diabetes Day awareness efforts across Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region, to highlight the connection between Peripheral Neuropathy and Diabetes and the importance of early identification and timely treatment.”

Speaking at the forum, Dr. Rayaz A. Malik (Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, Consultant Physician at Central Manchester University Teaching Hospital) shared, “Peripheral neuropathy is highly underdiagnosed in South-East Asia and the Middle East due to a lack of consensus guidance on routine screening and diagnostic pathways. This has a major impact on the quality of life as a result of painful neuropathic symptoms, foot ulceration and amputation with an associated 5-year mortality of 40% and 80%, respectively.  An awareness and sense of urgency amongst patients and healthcare providers is required, and primary care physicians need simple tools and guidance to help them diagnose peripheral neuropathy.”

“The P&G Health ‘Winning the Fight Against Neuropathy in Diabetic Patients’ forum brought to light enriching insights, data and clinical practice guidelines from health experts from across the globe and the region on the important role of neuropathy diagnoses, treatment and management, in improving the quality of life of diabetic patients,” added Dr. Ashley Barlow.

“While identifying a patient with early onset PN may sound challenging, it is not and doesn’t require complex diagnostic tools to diagnose peripheral neuropathy. Simple tools like a questionnaire and a sensory test can be a good start. By asking the right questions and listening to the patient, we can help patients avoid severe complications and improve their quality of life. The primary care physician has a key role to play in this,” added Dr. Rayaz A Malik.

For more information on the ‘Winning the Fight Against Neuropathy in Diabetic Patients’ forum, click here to register and learn from the webinar as healthcare professional: WDDglobalwebinar