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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4697
HOUSE BILL NO. __

Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The creation of a comprehensive National Nutrition Program is very vital in
ensuring the nutritional well-being of all Filipinos, to be recognized locally and
globally, it shall be led by a team of competent and committed public servants.

This State shall foster all efforts of the government, private sector, international
organizations and other stakeholders at all levels, in addressing hunger and
malnutrition of Filipinos through:

Policy and program formulation and coordination;
Capacity development;

Promotion of good nutrition;

Nutrition surveillance;

Resource generation and mobilization

Advocacy; and

Partnership and alliance building

This House Bill seeks to create a comprehensive National Nutrition Program,
that shall orchestrate the methodology in sustaining the health and nutritional
well- being in the country.

Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

‘LL. ROMERO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
4697
HOUSE BILL NO. __

Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL NUTRITION
PROGRAM, TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL, MORAL, SPIRITUAL,
INTELLECTUAL, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE NATION,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. TITLE - This Act shall be known as the “National
Nutrition Act of 2019”.

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY - It is hereby a declared
policy of the state to foster nation-building, thru the collaboration between food

and nutrition, and establish the capacity of the youth and students to develop
and learn.

The State shall establish a comprehensive national nutrition program that
will address the problem of malnutrition in the entire country.


SECTION 3. NATIONAL NUTRITION PROGRAM.- There shall

hereby be created a National Nutrition Program, hereinafter referred to as the
Program.

SECTION 4. MODULES AND SCOPE. - The program shall:

+ Formulate national food and nutrition policies and strategies and
serve as the policy, coordinating and advisory body of food,
nutrition and health concerns;

+ Coordinate planning, monitoring, and evaluation of the national
nutrition program;

+ Coordinate the hunger mitigation and malnutrition prevention
program to achieve relevant Millennium Development Goals;

+ Strengthen competencies and capabilities of stakeholders
through public education, capacity building and _ skills
development;

+ Coordinate the release of funds, loans, and grants from
government organizations (GOs) and _ nongovernment
organizations (NGOs); and

+ Call on any department, bureau, office, agency and other
instrumentalities of the government for assistance in the form of

personnel, facilities and resources as the need arises.
SECTION 5. MANDATORY NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR THE
YOUTH AND SCHOOL CHILDREN:
a. There shall be an allotted minimum budget per meal;

b. The concerned city or municipality shall determine the venue of
the feeding program;

c. The city or municipality in coordination with the DSWD and
DEPED shall determine the students that will be involved in the
feeding program;


d. The city or municipality in collaboration with the DSWD and
DEPED shall determine the frequency of holding the feeding
program;

e. DSWD and DEPED shall monitor and evaluate children’s weight
before and after the feeding programs to determine if the students
have reached their ideal nutritional status;

f. DSWD and DEPED shall educate families about health and
nutrition, so that they could sustain the progress children have
made during the school feeding programs;

g. DEPED shall mandate schools to provide nutrition, proper
grooming and hygiene counseling for both students and parents;

h. DSWD shall teach parents how to prepare affordable yet nutritious
meals through Parents Effectiveness Sessions.

i, DSWD and DEPED shall ensure that school feeding programs are
continuous.

SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - The state shall hereby provide the
amount of Five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) for the effective
implementation of the National Nutrition Program.

The amount necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be
included in the annual budget of implementing agencies in the General
Appropriations Act (GAA) of the year following its enactment into law and every
year thereafter.

The state shall hereby authorize the Department of Health (DOH) to re-align
its appropriations, in the current year of the date of the effectivity of this Act to

conform with its mandate and requirements.

SECTION 7. PERIODIC REPORTS - The National Nutrition Council
(NNC), DEPED, DSWD and DOH shall submit periodic reports on its findings

and make recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress and Senate and


the appropriate department, in order to carry out the objectives and mandates
of this Act.

SECTION 8. AUTOMATIC REVIEW - Every three (3) years after the
effectivity of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to be
appointed by the President shall review the policies and programs, and shall

make recommendations, based on its findings, to the President and to both

Houses of Congress.

SECTION 9. TRANSITORY PROVISION- Existing industries,
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other

period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act.

SECTION 10. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the

necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.

SECTION 11. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions

of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If, for any reason, any
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 13. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Act shall take effect
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier.

Approved,