Starting December 2025, eating out in Quezon City will look a little different for health-conscious diners.
Mayor Joy Belmonte has signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for a city ordinance requiring restaurants with five or more branches to display calorie counts on their menus. This means that soon, residents will be able to make more informed decisions about their food choices.
“With this step, our residents will be more empowered. When calorie labels are available on restaurant menus, QCitizens will have the power to choose healthier food options. With the right information, we can also promote a city that prioritizes health and nutrition),” said Belmonte in a media briefing.
Enacted in March 2024, the ordinance covers restaurants, fast food chains, and other food establishments, requiring them to list calories per serving of each menu item.
The policy will be implemented in three phases: in the first year, it will apply to restaurants with five or more branches; in the second year, businesses with two or more branches will follow suit; and by the third year, all food establishments will be required to comply.
Dr. Ramona Asuncion DG Abarquez, head of the Quezon City Health Department, said that both printed and digital menus must include calorie counts.
Small businesses such as ambulant vendors, hawkers, and carinderias are exempt from the ordinance.
