Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

899

House Bill No.

Introduced by ALONA Representative
Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1,000 days between a woman's pregnancy and her child's second birthday have
been identified as a critical window that determines a person's intellectual

development and lifelong health.

Studies have shown that the nutrition provided to the child during these first 1,000
days provides the essential foundation for the child’s overall development. The right
nutrition during these first 1,000 days will enable a child to reach his/her full adult
potential and likewise prevent the harmful effects of mainutrition, including stunting
and delayed development, Furthermore, this can have a substantial impact on a

country’s economy, boosting GDP by as much as twelve percent (12%).

According to the UN-World Food Programme (UN-WFP), approximately half of all
child deaths can be attributed to malnutrition, with three (3) million children dying
every year from related causes, Another two hundred million are chronically
malnourished and suffer from serious, often irreversible, physical and cognitive

damage.

In the Philippines, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) reported that 2
out of 10 or 19.9% of children among 0-5 years old were underweight, 3 out of 10 or


30.3% of children among 0-5 years old were stunted, and 1 out of 10 or 7.9% children

among 0-5 years old were wasted,

This bill aims to provide a solution to this problem by establishing mother and child
care program in every barangay in the Philippines, and institutionalizing policies

relevant thereto.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

Mad Hong of

ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ,


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

899

House Bill No.

Introduced by ALONA Representative
‘Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez,

AN ACT TO PROT! ILIPINO MOTHERS AND CHILDREN FROM
MALNUTRITION BY ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE MATERNAL AND
CHILD HEALTH CARE PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short title.—This Act shall be known as the “The First 1,000 Days Act’.

SECTION 2. Declaration of policies.— It is hereby declared the policy of the State: (a) To
equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception; (b) To
recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health
care services, and the duty of the State that no child is deprived of his or her right of access

to such health services.

For purposes of this Act, the “First 1,000 days” refers to the period starting from Day

One of a woman’s pregnancy, until the child reaches the age of two years.

It is the critical window that determines a

SECTION 3. The First 1,000 Days of Life.
person's intellectual development and lifelong health.


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SECTION 4. Establishing a First 1000 Days Program in every barangay. —‘The Department
of Health (DOH) shall, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the
National Nutrition Council (NNC) develop a comprehensive health care program for
pregnant and lactating women as well as the health and nutrition of their newborn children

from 1 to 1,000 days, in every barangay.

SECTION 5. Program Content.—The maternal and child health care services which may be
provided to eligible individuals during the 1,000 day period shall include the following
components:

Component 1, Health Care and Sanitation

© Trainings and seminars on Community Management of Maternal and Newbom Care
(MMNC) and Essential Intra-Partum of Newborn Care (EINC),

© Conduct of laboratory work-ups and rotating ultrasound;

© Provision of Maternal Child Health Care and Nutrition (MCHCN) package: (a) access
to comprehensive antenatal care services; (b) facility based births attended by skilled
health professionals; (c) immediate postpartum and post-natal care by skilled health
professionals to include initiation of breastfeeding and immunization;

© Strengthening the Newbom Sereening Program and Expanded Program on
Immunization;

© Health Education Advocacy;

* Environmental Sanitation; and

* Allocation of Target Client List to each priority municipality

Component 2. Food and Nutrition
© Establishment of Family Home Gardens;
‘© Strengthening of Information Education Campaign;
© Provision of Supplementation to Mothers and Children; and
* Capability Development

Component 3. Social Care
© Conduct of Parent Effectiveness Service;
© Gender and Development Sensitivity Sessions; and
© Parents’ Congress,

SECTION 6, Implementing rules and regulations.— The DOH shall, in coordination with
the DILG, DSWD and representatives of recognized women’s and children’s organizations
and academic communities, shall promulgate and publish the necessary rules and


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regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within two months from the date of

the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriation, ~ To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as may

be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National ‘Treasury.

Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Program shall be

included in the annual appropriation of the DOH.

SECTION 8. Separability clause.—If, for any reason, any part, section or provision of this,

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is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall

continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing clause.— All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules
and regulations, and other issuances, or part or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with

the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 10. Effectivity clause.—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the

completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,