Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
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Introduced by Representative Dante S. Garcia
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Malnutrition  continues to  plague  young  Filipino  children  in  the  country.  In  the
January to October 2021  Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data,  death caused by
malnutrition  increased  by  almost  forty  percent  (40%),  the  highest  on  record,  with
4,844   Filipinos   died   of   malnutrition.      Local   economists   believe   that   this   plight
reflected  the  government's  failure  to  respond  to  the  health  and  nutrition  needs  of
Filipinos, which aggravated during the time of the Covid  19 pandemic.   Nearly half of
all  deaths  in  children  under  age  5  are  attributable  to  undernutrition,  which  puts
children  at  greater  risk  of  dying  from  common  infections.   Its  lack  of  institutional
support  for  a  stable  and  responsive  nutrition  program  has  caused  this  observed
increase in deaths.
The  2019  Food  and  Nutrition  Research  lnstitute's  National  Nutrition  Survey
(FNRI-NNS) reported that twenty-nine  percent (29%) of Filipino children  aged  5  and
under,  or one  of every three  children,  had  stunted  growth,  nineteen  percent  (19%)
were  underweight, while six peroent (6°/o) of children  under age 5 were identified as
wasted  because  of starvation  and  disease.   The 2021  World  Bank study sustained
the  report  that  the  Philippines  is  suffering  from  a  "silent  pandemic",   referring  to
childhood   stunting   because  of  undernutrition.   Across  the   East  Asia  and   Pacific
region, the Philippines had the fifth highest prevalence of stunting, and was in the top
10   on   the   global   scale,   proving   that   it   is   indeed   a   "very   high"   public   health
significance.
The    persistence    of   very    high    levels    of   childhood    undernutrition    and
malnutrition  pose  a  high  threat  to  the  country's  human  and  economic  potential.
Nevertheless,   the   passage   of  an   enabling   legislation   that   aims   to   provide   a
continuous investment in nutrition, and basic health education to address the various
problem of malnutrition in the country should be resolved.
This  is  where  the  Barangay  Integrated  Development  Approach  to  Nutrition
Improvement  (BIDANl)  comes  in.    It  is  an  active  research  initiative  by  the  BIDANl
network group composed of participating state universities and colleges (SUCs), the
National  Nutrition  Council  and  the  local  government  units  (LGUs)  which  aims  to
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address nutritional gaps among the poor by promoting,  protecting, and implementing
sound food and nutrition concepts,
This   measure  seeks  to  establish   and   institutionalize  the   BIDANI   network
program as a vanguard of research in development  which aims to promote nutrition-
in-development   for   the   general   well-being   of   the   rural   poor   through   a   local
participative  and  integrated  management  system  spearheaded  by the  participating
State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) through its extension programs.
ln view of the foregoing, approval of this measure
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sought.
GARCIA
d  District]  La Union


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No.
Introduced by Representative Dante S. Garcia
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING  TIIE   BARANGAY  INTEGRATED  DEVELOPMENT  APPROACH
FOR   NUTRITION   IMPROVEMENT   0F   THE   RURAL   POOR   AS   A   LINKAGE
PROGRAM FOR ALL STATE uNlvERslTIEs AI`m coLLHGEs ANI] coMMUNITv
COLLHGES ANI) APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  Of  Representatives  Of.  the  Philippines  in  Congress
assembled:
SECTION  1.  ffoorf  rz.£fe.  -  This  Act  shall  be  known  as  the  "Barangay  Integrated
Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI) Act".
See. 2.    Dcc./¢r¢rfu.o# a/PoJi.c.]7. - It is the policy of the State to recognize nutrition as a
basic  human  right that  shall  be promoted  as  a public  good  and  a public  concern that  can  be
satisfactory achieved through multi-sectoral support and cooperation.  To this end, the State shall
vigorously  work  towards  the  provision  of the  nutritional  needs  of the  poor  and  vulnerable
especially in the rural areas, and give utmost support to programs and projects that are responsive
to the health needs of the Filipino people.
Sec. 3.  Okyiecfr.veg. -This Act shall have the following objectives:
(a)  To  encourage  the  cooperation   and  participation  of  academic  institutions  and  local
government units (LGUs) in promoting the nutritional well-being of the people;
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(b) To  develop  among  state universities  and  colleges  (SUCs),  and  community  colleges  an
effective  research-action  network  program  that  will  improve  the  nutrition  and  general
well-being of the mral poor; aiid
(c)  To improve the nutritional well-being of the poor in the rural areas in order to enhance
their health and productivity.
See.  4.  The  Barangay  Integrated  Development  ALpproach  for  Nutrition  Improvement
Program.   -   The   Barangay   Integrated  Development  Approach   for  Nutrition  Improvement
(BIDANI) is established as a comprehensive nutrition-in-development action research program
of the state universities and colleges (SUCs) and community colleges in support of the health and
nutrition program of the national government and local government units (LGUs) whose target
beneficiaries are the rural poor.
It  is  a  compi.ehensive  model  for building  the  capacity  of LGUs  to  integrate  nutrition
concerns   in   countryside   development   programs   that   supports   the   implementation   of  the
Philippine  Plan  of Action  for  Nutrition  (PPAN)  to  combat  malnutrition,  food  and  nutrition
insecurity, social deprivation, and poverty alleviation.
See.  5.  Progroi„  Go¢J`§.  -  The  BIDANI  Program  shall  promote  nutrition-in-development
through  community  and other  stakeholders'  participation in  an  integrated management system
facilitated by SUCs. The Program shall:
(a)  Require  all  SUCs  and  community  colleges  to  assist  the  government  in  achieving  the
nutrition targets of the PPAN;
(b) Engage  the  SUCs  and  community  colleges  in  the  conduct  of training  and  capacity-
building activities for all BIDANI stakeholders on the BIDANI strategies and irmovative
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practices  to  ensure  that  in-planning  nutrition  shall  be  integrated  in  all  areas  of local
governance;
(c)  Promote  the  best  nutrition-in-development  practices  of  successful  LGUs  through  the
participation of local nutrition management teams; and
(d) Build partnership  among  SUCs,  community  colleges  and  other stakeholders  to  support
the  citizenry  towards  self-help  and  self-reliance;  encourage  citizen  action  through  the
involvement  of  various  stakeholders;  and  coordinate  with  government  organizations
(GOs),  nongovemment  organizations  (NGOs),  private  organization  (POs)  and  other
private sector groups in linking the community with existing resources.
See.   6.      BIDANI   StructuraL/Organizational   Linkages.   -  "e  BIDA;NI   pa]rfncrs   iTnd
stakeholders shall work at different levels, as follows:
(a)  State Universities  and Colleges  (SUCs)  -  Community  Colleges'  Partnership with  SUCs
shall  be  formalized  through  an  execution  of a  Memorandum  of  Agreement  (MOA)
between  the   University  of  the   Philippines-Los   Bafios   (UPLB),   being  the   national
coordinator of the BIDANI Program, represented by its Chancellor, and the President of
the concerned SUCs or community colleges.   Upon approval of the MOA, the BIDANI
Program shall be operationalized under the Office of the Vice President for Research and
Extension  (OVPRE)  of the  partner  SUC  or  community  college.  A  BIDANI  SUC  or
community college will then choose and coordinate with its parther LGU;
(b) City or Municipal  Local  Goverrment Units  -  The implementation  of the BIDANI  as  a
development strategy shall  commence upon the approval by the city or municipality  of
the nutrition plans formulated by the SUC concerned through a MOA or city/municipality
resolution.     Eacli  city  or  municipality   sliall  create  a  City/Municipal   Organizational
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Machinery,   composed  of  heads  and  representatives  of  different  city/municipal  line
agencies  who  shall  be  responsible  for the  implementation,  monitoring,  evaluation  and
replication of the BIDANI strategy in the locality;
(c)  Barangay  Units  - The  realization  of the  BIDANI  as  a  development  strategy  shall  be
accomplished  at  the  barangay  level.  The  membership  of each  Barangay  Development
Council (BDC)  shall be expanded and the BDC shall hereinafter be called the Program
Planning   and   Implementing   Committee.      The   Committee   shall   be   composed   of
representatives from the Sangguniang Barangay, BDC, the various purok in the barangay
and other community leaders who shall be trained on the BIDANI strategy to ensure that
the  processes  for  planning  and  management  of  development  programs,  projects  and
activities  will  be  participative  and  responsive  to  the  needs  of  the  residents  of  the
barangay; and
(d) Other Stakeholders - The participation and inputs of the NGOs, POs, other government
agencies and offlces,  shall be sought in the formulation of plans by the members of the
baraiigay.
See.  7.    BJDL4NI J#i!ov#fllve  ftr¢fggr.e\s.  -  To  facilitate  the  local  implementation  of the
BIDANI, the Program shall be implemented using the following innovative strategies:
(a)  Formulation of the Barangay Integrated Development Plan (BIDP) -Upon  approval  of
this Act, each barangay shall formulate its BIDP which shall include the barangay's plans
and programs relative to nutrition, and which plans shall be integrated to the municipal
development plan;
(b) Updating of the Existing Barangay Management Information system (BMIS) - As part of
its research activities, the concerned SUC or community college shall continue to update
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its'  existing people-based information  system which  shall  focus  on the identification  of
the needs of the barangay through efficient and effective data collection.  The data shall
be the basis for program planning, management and implementation of various projects
and activities in the barangay; and
(c)  Implementation   of  Participative   Nutrition   Enhancement   Approach   (PNEA)   -  The
National Nutrition Council (NNC), and participating SUCs and community colleges shall
utilize   tlie  life   cycle   approach  in  the   formulation  of  food  production  policies   and
programs,  and  promote  market-driven  livelihood  activities  among  the  households  to
prevent malnutrition among preschool chi] dren and nutritionally-at-risk families.
Sec.  8.   ,dypraprJ.¢fl.o#s.  - The  amount necessary  for the  implementation  of the  BIDANI
linkage protgram shall be included in the budget of the participating SUCs or community college,
in the annual General Appropriations Act.   The LGUs shall provide funding to the participating
community colleges for the implementation of the BIDANI linkage pi.ogram.
Participating  SUCs  and  community  colleges  may  also  receive  grants,  donations,  and
other forms of financial support from foreign and local persons, institutions, and governments for
the implementation of the BIDANI l]-nkage program.
In addition, the income generated by participating SUCs or community colleges may also
be used to augment the fund for the BIDANI Linkage Program.
See.  9.      Implementing  Rules  and  Regulations.  -  W±tlin  sixty  {60)  days  from  uha
approval   of  this   Act,   the   UPLB-BIDANI   shall,   in   coordination  with   the  NNC   and  the
participating   SUCs   and   community   colleges,   prepare   and   issue   the   necessary   rules   and
regulations for its effective implementation.
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See.  10.    Sgp¢r#bl./try  CJa#sg.  -  If any  portion  or  provision  of this  Act  is  declared
uncoiistitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.
See.  11.   Rcpe¢JJ.#g CJawse. -A111aws` decrees,  executive ol.ders, rules and regulations,
other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.
See. 12.  Ej7e: c.tr.vrty. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (`15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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