THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday, March 10, encouraged local government units (LGUs) to strengthen initiatives that promote active and healthy lifestyles by organizing community fitness activities, expanding green public spaces, and adopting car-free Sundays.
The call supports the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize the health and well-being of Filipinos amid the rising number of overweight adults in the country.
Data from the 2023 National Nutrition Survey showed that four in every ten Filipino adults are now classified as overweight or obese.
The Epidemiological Burden and Cost of Obesity in the Philippines (EpicCOb-PH) estimated that fat people spend at least P66 daily to lose those extra pounds.
The total cost was computed in accounting the direct medical costs, such as checkups and counselling sessions, as well as alternative treatments and losses in productivity.
Through a recently issued Memorandum Circular, the DILG recommended that LGUs organize accessible outdoor activities such as fun runs, Zumba sessions, and community sports events to encourage citizens to remain physically active.
The DILG also urged local governments to develop and maintain green public spaces such as parks, plazas, and open areas where residents can safely exercise and spend time outdoors.
These spaces should include accessible pathways and ramps to ensure that senior citizens and persons with disabilities can fully participate in community activities.
To further promote safe and convenient spaces for physical activity, LGUs are also encouraged to implement Car-Free Sundays, where selected roads are temporarily closed to vehicles and opened for pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, and other recreational users.
To minimize traffic disruption, the DILG recommended that LGUs implement proper rerouting plans for motorists.
Several cities including Metro Manila, Baguio, Iloilo City, and Davao City have already adopted car-free initiatives, providing residents with safer and more open spaces for exercise and community engagement.
The DILG is also encouraging LGUs to integrate health and wellness initiatives into their local development plans to ensure that programs promoting active lifestyles are sustained in the long term.
Regional directors have likewise been ordered to support and monitor these initiatives as part of broader efforts to promote healthier communities and improve the quality of life of Filipinos across the country.
Dr. Paul delos Trinos of metaHealth explained that early mortality and mere absenteeism due to weight-related complications account for this indirect cost.
“The demographic dividend, as shown, (is) that you have productive people. But if you have significant productivity losses, that will be a concern,” delos Trinos said on Monday.
The Philippines spend P551 billion for medical costs in healthcare, which is equal to 2.12 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
It has also cost P1.167 trillion in productivity losses, while P1.9 trillion was lost in the country’s total economy.
“This is a significant cost (for the) total economy. It’s also important for obesity to get the attention that it deserves,” Trinos added, noting that weight-related concerns have been left out from the priorities.
As of 2025, 4 out of 10 Filipino adults have been classified as obese which, if left untreated, can lead to weight-related complications.
The study also suggested that only 10% of obese individuals may be able to live without bearing illnesses such as diabetes, heart problems, and stroke.
