SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1135 
Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
Section 15, Article 2 of the Philippine Constitution mandates: 
"The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. " 
'13 
JIJL 29 
1\ 9 :(] 7 
Thousands of infants each year are born with serious birth defects of the brain and spine, called 
neural tube defects. The most common of these are spina bifida, the incomplete closure of the 
spinal colunm and anencephaly, a fatal condition in which an infant is born with a severely 
underdeveloped brain and skulL 
Only recently have researchers made some progress in preventing these defects. Studies show 
that as many as seventy percent (70%) of neural tube birth defects could be prevented if all 
women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, before conception and 
during early pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin found naturally in foods such as leafy green 
vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, and juices and in certain multivitamins capsules. Unfortunately, a 
majority of women lack information about this. 
Thus, this bill seeks to provide a national folic acid education campaign in order to urge women 
to take the simple step to prevent neural tube defects. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
rol\!N'P' F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
1 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1135 
Sit>1'nnh 
{@th;r (If H1C' ~frrdDr~ :1: 
'13 
JUL 29 
A 9 :07 
Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonuy" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL FOLIC ACID EDUCATION PROGRAM TO 
PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION I. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Folic Acid Promotion and Birth 
2 
Defects Prevention Act". 
3 
4 
SEC. 2. Promotion of the Beneficial Effects of Folic Acid in the Prevention of Birth 
5 
Defects.- The Department of Health shall carry out a program directly or through special 
6 
arrangements with other government agencies and other promotional entities engaged in public 
7 
information activities, to provide education and training for health professionals and the general 
8 
public for purposes of explaining the effects of folic acid in preventing birth defects and to 
9 
encourage women of reproductive capacity to consume the appropriate amount of folic acid as a 
10 
dietary supplement on a daily basis. 
11 
Pursuant thereto, the Secretary of Health may consult with the appropriate public or 
12 
private entities, including national nonprofit and nongovernment organizations, health 
13 
professionals and health insurance and health plan providers, to ensure the success of such 
14 
education and training program. In addition, the Secretary shall, directly or through partnership 
15 
with other sectors, provide technical assistance to public and nonprofit private organizations to 
16 
fulfill the mandate provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof. 
1 


1 
SEC. 3. Continuing Research and Study on the Effects of Folic Acid.- The Department 
2 
of Health shall conduct continuing studies on the effects of folic acid to increase the 
3 
understanding of the same on the health of the citizenry, especially its contribution to the 
4 
prevention of birth defects, cleft lip and palate, and heart defects. It shall likewise conduct 
5 
research with respect to such education and training, including identifying effective strategies 
6 
for increasing the rate of consumption of folic acid by women of reproductive capacity. In 
7 
addition, it shall provide for appropriate epidemiological activities regarding folic acid, birth 
8 
defects and neural tube defects. 
9 
10 
SEC. 4. Evaluation of Program Implementation.- The Secretary of 16 Health shall 
11 
cause the review of the program to evaluate the extent to which the activities carried out, 
12 
pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 hereof, have been effective in fulfilling the goals of the program, 
13 
including their effect on different sectors of the population. Methods of evaluation to be 
14 
undertaken pursuant thereto may include surveys of knowledge and attitudes on the consumption 
15 
of folic acid and on blood folate levels, and the complete and timely monitoring of infants who 
16 
are born with neural tube defects. 
17 
18 
SEC. 5. The Secretary of Health shall include . in the Department's program the 
19 
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 
20 
Appropriations Act. 
21 
22 
SEC. 6. Separability Clause.- If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
23 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected thereby shall 
24 
remain valid and SUbsisting. 
25 
26 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause.- Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
27 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
28 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
2 


1 
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
2 
publication in the Official Gazette. 
Approved, 
3