Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19th CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  ____ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL REPEALING FOR 
THIS PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 491, ENTITLED CREATING A 
NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”, EXPANDING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Nutrition Council (NNC) was established in 1974 through Presidential Decree 491, 
with its mandate as the highest policymaking and coordinating body for nutrition in our country. Despite 
nearly five decades after its inception, its organizational structure has remained unchanged. This poses 
challenges, given the dynamic nature of our society, marked by factors like population growth and 
technological advancements. The NNC's ability to effectively fulfill its functions has been hindered 
primarily due to its small size and understaffing. 
In the interest of enhancing the NNC's capabilities and ensuring its ongoing operational 
efficiency, this proposed legislation seeks to elevate its status from a council to that of a commission. 
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution underscores the State's responsibility to protect 
and promote the right to health of the people and to instill health consciousness among them. This is 
especially crucial when considering the significant positive outcomes tied to ensuring proper nutrition 
for every child, including economic prosperity, increased labor force productivity, and enhanced child 
development. 
However, alarming statistics reveal that one in three Filipino children aged 5 and under suffers 
from malnutrition. This problem is closely associated with factors such as poverty, inadequate access 
to food, and a lack of basic health education. However, it is important to recognize that malnutrition is 
a complex issue rooted in various economic and social imbalances, encompassing living conditions and 
the availability of healthier food options. The NNC, as one of the government's principal instruments in 
the fight against malnutrition, can play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. 
Hence, it is imperative to strengthen and broaden the scope of the NNC by providing targeted 
interventions and essential support to the vulnerable population. A well-integrated and robust 
framework will facilitate coordinated collaboration among healthcare providers and relevant 
government agencies, ensuring that the necessary measures are implemented promptly. This, in turn, 
will result in an improved and more efficient approach to tackling malnutrition concerns as they emerge. 
Therefore, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
September 11, 2023
6:52 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19th CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  ____ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL REPEALING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 491, ENTITLED CREATING A NATIONAL 
NUTRITION COUNCIL AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”, EXPANDING ITS POWERS 
AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress 
Assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Nutrition Act of 2023”. 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is a declared policy of the State under Article II, Section 
15 of the 1987 Constitution to guarantee the right of Filipinos to health and instill health 
consciousness among them.  
In various international agreements, the State commits the enhancement of nation’s 
health sector and its social protection programs consistent with the principles embodied in the 
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention of the Rights 
of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against 
Women. Therefore, the State ensures to: 
1. provide good nutrition;
2. provide food security;
3. eliminate hunger;
4. reduce all forms of malnutrition;
5. improve the quality of life;
6. prioritize nutrition for all age groups; and
7. collaborate across all branches of government, local government units, civil society
organizations, and private sector to guarantee improved human health and wellbeing.
Section 3. Renaming of the National Nutrition Council. The nomenclature of the National 
Nutrition Council, established pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 491, as amended, is hereby 
changed to National Nutrition Commission, hereinafter referred to in this Act as the 
“Commission”, which shall be attached to the office of the President for general direction and 
coordination. 
Section 4. Composition of the Commission. – The Commission shall be headed by a 
Chairperson with a rank of Cabinet Secretary and two (2) Commissioners with the rank of 
Undersecretary. They shall be appointed by the President for a term of six years with one 
reappointment and shall be entitled to retirement benefits provided under Republic Act 
Numbered Fifteen Hundred and Sixty-Eight, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Three 
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Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety-Five. Appointments to a vacancy that occurs before the 
expiration of the term of a Chairperson or Commissioner shall cover only the unexpired term 
of the immediate predecessor. At the expiration of the term of the Chairperson or in case of 
vacancy, the most senior of the Commissioners shall temporarily assume and perform the 
duties and functions of the Chairperson until a permanent Chairperson is appointed by the 
President. The Chairperson and the Commissioners shall hold office until their successors are 
appointed. 
The Commission shall appoint its officers and employees in accordance with the Civil 
Service law, rules, and regulations. 
The Commission shall be the primary policy-making, coordinating, implementing, and 
advisory body on nutrition and food concerns. 
 
Section 5. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Commission – The powers, 
functions, and responsibilities of the Commission are as follows: 
1. To formulate an integrated and multi-sectoral national policies, programs, activities, 
and projects on nutrition and food to ensure good nutrition, eliminate hunger, and 
food security. 
2. To supervise, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of its programs, 
projects, and activities undertaken by all agencies and instrumentalities of both the 
government and private sector concerning nutrition and food. It shall coordinate with 
the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Department of 
Social Welfare and Development to ensure proper nutrition and food during 
emergencies and disasters. 
3. To provide technical assistance to increase competencies and capabilities of 
stakeholders and health workers through the conduct of public education, capacity 
building, skills development, and advocacy. 
4. To establish a continuing program for information dissemination and awareness. 
5. To create and maintain a system for nutrition surveillance with gender perspective; 
6. To coordinate the release of public funds for nutrition and food in accordance with the 
approved projects, activities, and programs. 
7. To coordinate all requests for loans and grants by the government agencies involved 
in the nutrition and food program. 
8. To provide monetary and non-monetary incentives to nutrition champions by 
establishing rewards and recognition system. 
9. To 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 6. Provisional Members and Linkages – The Commission, upon call, shall have the 
support, assistance, and coordination of the following provisional members: 
1. Undersecretaries of the following government bodies: 
a) Department of Health 
b) Department of Agriculture 
c) Department of the Interior and Local Government 
d) Department of Education 
e) Department of Social Welfare and Development 
f) Department of Trade and Industry 
g) Department of Labor and Employment 
h) Department of Science and Technology 
i) Department of Budget and Management 
j) National Economic and Development Authority 
 


2. Presidents of the Leagues of Local Government Units: 
a) League of Provinces 
b) League of Cities 
c) League of Municipalities 
d) Liga ng mga Barangay 
 
3. Maximum of three (3) representatives from any of the following private sector: 
a) Health and nutrition professional organizations 
b) farmer and fisherfolk 
c) women 
d) children 
e) urban poor 
f) food manufacturing 
g) academe and research institutions 
h) organization or association of community health workers or barangay nutrition 
scholars 
i) non-government organizations 
 
The Commission and the provisional members shall sit en banc for the purpose of 
approving the PPAN and for other purpose as may be determined by the Chairperson. 
The provisional members shall have the honoraria of P10,000.00 or 5% of their 
respective basic salaries, whichever is higher per meeting. 
 
Section 7. Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). A six-year multi-sectoral and 
integrated national nutrition plan of action shall be developed and formulated by the 
Commission. The PPAN should be aligned with the Philippine Development Plan. 
In developing the PPAN, the policies, principles, and programs embodied in the Food 
Fortification Law (Republic Act No. 8976), Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide Law (Republic 
Act No. 8172), Nutrition and Dietetics Law of 2016 (Republic Act No. 10866), Masustansyang 
Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act (Republic Act No. 11037), Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-
Nanay Act (Republic Act No. 11148) and all the relevant laws on nutrition and food security 
to be enacted hereafter must be considered. 
The PPAN must be concurred by its provisional members. The PPAN must be submitted 
to the Office of the President for direction and coordination. 
 
Section 8. Nutrition Month. — The month of July shall be designated as NUTRITION MONTH 
for the purpose of creating greater awareness among our people on the importance of 
nutrition. The Commission shall formulate and approve programs and activities for nutrition 
month which should be coordinated across all sectors whether public or private. 
 
Section 9. Donations. The Commission shall be authorized to received donations, grants, or 
gifts in whatever form and from whatever sources: Provided that, said grants, gifts or 
donations shall be administered, obligated and disbursed in accordance with the terms of the 
grant or donation and in such manner as the Commission may in its discretion determine. 
 
Section 10. Retention of Personnel; Security of Tenure; Upgrading of Positions and Salaries. 
All existing permanent personnel of the National Nutrition Council shall not be adversely 
affected by this Act. They shall continue in office and shall not be removed or separated from 
the service except for cause as provided for by existing laws. Further, the present positions 
and salaries of personnel shall be upgraded to the level of their counterparts in a department 
set-up. The Commission shall hire such other personnel as may be necessary for the 
performance of its functions. 


 
Section 11. Transitory Provisions. - In consonance with the above provision, the incumbent 
Executive Director and Deputy Executive Directors shall serve as the firsts Chairperson and 
Commissioners upon effectivity of this Act. 
 
Section 12. Appropriations. The State shall hereby provide the initial amount necessary for 
the organizational and operational requirements of this Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary 
to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of 
the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
 
Section 13. Repealing Clause. Presidential Decree No. 491, as amended by Executive Order 
No. 234 s. 1987, Administrative Order No. 88 s. 1988, and Executive Order No. 427 s. 2005, 
is hereby repealed. All other laws, executive orders, executive issuances or letter of 
instructions, or any part thereof, inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are 
hereby deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 14. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any section or provision of this Act shall 
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts thereof not affected thereby shall 
remain valid. 
 
Section 15. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,