FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATll 
S. No. 
i:! '-i 1 0 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. 
Thousands of infants each year are born with serious birth defects 0 f the brain and spine, 
called neural tube defects. The most common of these are spina bifida, the incomplete closure of 
the spinal column, and anencephaly, a fatal condition in which an infant is born with a severely 
underdeveloped brain and skull. 
Studies in the United States show that as many as seventy percent (70%) of neural tube 
birth defects could be prevented if all women of childbearing age consume four hundred (400) 
micrograms of folic acid daily, beginning before pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin found 
naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, and juices and in certain 
multivitamin capsules. Unfortunately, a majority of women are neither aware of this prevention 
opportunity, nor consuming the recommended daily amount. 
Hence, this bill seeks to provide a national folic acid education campaign in order to urge 
women to take the simple step to prevent ~eural tube defects.' 
~~ 
4~>,A''v'--> :-2",~t~ · 
MIRIAM DEF NSOR Sil.NTI 
N/Y' 
.. 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~W 
S. No. 
\SID 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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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: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Folic Acid Promotion and 
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Birth Defects Prevention Act." 
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SECTION 2. Program Regarding Effects of Folic Acid in Prevention of Birth Defects. -
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(A) In General. - The Secretary of Health shall carry out a program, directly or 
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through grants or contracts, for the following purposes: 
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(1) To provide education and training for health professionals and the 
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general public for purposes of encouraging each women of reproductive capacity, 
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whether or not planning a pregnancy, to consume on a daily basis a dietary 
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supplement that provides an appropriate level offolic acid. 
, 
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(2) To conduct research with respect to such education and training, 
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including identifying effective strategies for increasing the rate of consumption of 
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folic acid by women of reproductive capacity. 
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(3) To conduct research to increase the understanding of the effects of 
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folic acid in preventing birth defects, including understanding with respect to cleft 
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lip, cleft palate, and heart defects. 
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(4) To provide for appropriate epidemiological activities regarding folic 
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acid and 22 birth defects, including epidemiological activities regarding neural 
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tube defects. 
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(B) Consultations with Private Entities. - In carrying out paragraph (A), the 
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Secretary shall consult with appropriate public or private entities, including national non-
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profit private organizations, health professionals, and providers of health insurance and 
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health plans. 
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(C) Technical Assistance. - The Secretary may, directly or through grants or 
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contracts, provide technical assistance to public and non-profit private entities in carrying 
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out the activities described in paragraph (A). 
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(D) Evaluations. - The Secretary shall, directly or through grants or contracts, 
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provide for the evaluation of activities under paragraph (A) in order to determine the 
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extent to which such activities have been effective in carrying out the purposes of the 
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program under such subsection, including the effects on various' demographic 
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popUlations. Methods of evaluation under the preceding sentence may include surveys of 
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knowledge and attitudes on the consumption of folic acid and on blood folate levels. 
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Such methods may include complete and timely monitoring of infants who are born with 
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neural tube defects. 
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(E) Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
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such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. EffectiVity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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