Press Release
April 15, 2009

ANGARA EYES MORE FUNDING, PROGRAMS FOR RP'S YOUTH
HEALTH AWARENESS

Senator Edgardo Angara Active Lifestyle Awards slated today; Star for All Season's son and Superstar's niece to be awarded

Senator Edgardo J Angara today expressed his concern over alarming statistics of children and youth affected by various health disorders such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity due to unhealthy lifestyle and poor eating habits, citing the need for more funding, and concrete programs and policies to promote health awareness among youth.

"Lack of awareness and vital information could perilously stifle our efforts toward building a healthier nation. Statistics would show that our youth is increasingly affected by various debilitating diseases formerly known only to be common on adults. In this age of information technology, we must ensure that modern technology is on our side by capturing the positive effects of easier information dissemination and advances in the medical field," said Angara who pioneered various health policies such as the PhilHealth Act and the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers.

He then called on to all awardees, students and parents alike, to be models of excellence for health consciousness.

He added, "In this time of modern technology wherein our youth were being lulled to the comforts of high technology devices, thereby promoting a culture of sedentary lifestyle, I urge our Angara Active Lifestyle Awardees to be envoys of healthy lifestyle and health consciousness."

Statistics showed that three out of 4 children aged 0-10 years, and 4 to 6 out of 100 adolescents in the Philippines are overweight. Obesity and overweight lead to serious problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, among others.

According to the Department of Health - National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the effects of this debilitating disease is being more felt and is now affecting more Filipino children in the past decade. Statistics from the Philippine Society of Pediatric Metabolism and Endocrinology estimates that eight percent of Filipino children may be suffering from diabetes, which is said to be increasingly affecting younger Filipinos due to unhealthy lifestyle.

Angara also cited some published reports stating that more and more Filipino doctors are gaining contact to young hypertensive Filipinos experiencing blood pressure reading as high as 260/160.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, addressed his concerns to endocrinologists of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) - Philippine Chapter, pharmaceutical company representatives and school officials at the culminating activity of the advocacy campaign dubbed as "Power of Prevention through Fitness and Nutrition" by the AACE.

The ceremony was highlighted by the Senator Edgardo Angara Active Lifestyle Awards (SEAALA), which seeks to acknowledge students who are found to have made significant improvements throughout the entire health campaign. Among the awardees are Ryan Christian Recto, son of Batangas Governor Vilma Santos and Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Ralph Recto, and Superstar Nora Aunor's niece Lariza Ashley Aunor.

"Power of Prevention through Fitness and Nutrition" is a project that aims to curb the obesity epidemic through awareness campaigns at elementary PE classes participating schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The program teaches 6th grade children of the importance of proper nutrition and regular exercise through a 5-day module to be included in their PE classes.

"We need a healthier youth in order to build a stronger nation and boost our competitiveness in the global arena," added Angara.

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