The local government of Quezon City on Tuesday, Aug. 1, introduced to other local government units (LGUs) its Healthy Public Food Procurement (HPFP) Policy which sets the mandatory nutrition standards for all food and food supplies in city-run hospitals, offices, departments, and institutions. In partnership with advocacy group ImagineLaw, the city government successfully implemented the HPFP Policy which aims to help the city residents live a healthy and meaningful life. During the Policy Showcase, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte presented the HPFP Policy to the representatives of interested local government units, concerned national government agencies, and professional organizations at the Quezon City Hall.  In 2021, Mayor Belmonte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 16 implementing the HPFP Policy, becoming the first city in the country to institutionalize it in its operations.  Belmonte hopes to encourage other cities to emulate Quezon City’s initiative to ensure that no public funds will be spent on unhealthy food. “Our vision is to foster a healthier community, not only for the well-being of individuals but also for the well-being of our planet,” Belmonte said during her speech. “With cities at the forefront of addressing global issues such as health and nutrition and climate change, we all must stand together to enact strong policies to build a better future for our constituency,” she added. Mayor Joy also thanked the national government agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the National Nutrition Council (NNC), for expressing their interest in Quezon City’s initiative.  Under the the EO, all offices, departments, institutions, and task forces in the city are required to ensure that all food and food supplies procured by the city government for its various offices, projects, and programs comply with the City’s Nutrition Standards.  The order also apply to all entities involved in the process of procuring or supplying food for the local government, including food suppliers.  Furthermore, the suppliers are encouraged to source their healthy food and healthy food ingredients from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including the 700 urban farms in Quezon City.  Belmonte said that by aligning sustainable food production with healthy food procurement, the health and food security will surely go hand in hand. The local government’s initiative was recognized by the Department of Health at the Healthy Pilipinas Awards in 2022. According to the LGU, the Calorie Labeling Policy will also be implemented soon with the help of ImagineLaw.  The Policy for Healthy Cities Program of Vital Strategies recently provided technical assistance to the city council for the implementation of a calorie labeling policy that will assist QCitizens in choosing what foods to eat depending on their caloric content. “This policy will be a game-changer, providing clear and transparent information about the calorie content of food items, equipping our community with the knowledge they need to lead healthier lives,” Belmonte emphasized.