Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.___1549

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE JOSE MARIA R. ZUBIRI, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, provides a list of
appointive officials common to LGUs. However, it does not explicitly include the
appointment of a nutrition officer to take charge of nutrition services and programs
of the government.

Meanwhile, the findings of the World Bank-sponsored International Development
in Focus publication on Undernutrition in the Philippines: Scale, Scope, and
Opportunities for Nutrition Policy and Programming published on 15 June 20211
showed a dim future for the country when it comes to nutrition.

In general, the Philippines has neglected to prioritize nutrition as there have been
almost no improvement for 30 years regarding undernutrition. In fact, as of 2019,
29% of Filipino children still suffered stunting; that the country ranks 5“ among
countries in the East Asia and Pacific region with the highest prevalence of stunting
and is among the 10 countries in the world with the highest number of stunted
children.

To point the nutrition program of the country into proper perspective, this bill
mandates the appointment of a nutrition officer who shall head the nutrition office
in provinces, cities, and municipalities in the country, and focus on the planning,
implementation and supervision of nutrition-specific programs and policies for the
benefit of their respective constituents.

Given the foregoing, wal of this bill is earnestly sought.

JOSE MAI R. IRI, IR.
Representati'
Third District, Bukidnon

* huips://vww.worldbank org/en/country/philippines/publication/-key-findings-undernutrition-in-the-
philippines



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1549

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE JOSE MARIA R. ZUBIRI, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF A NUTRITION
OFFICER IN ALL PROVINCES, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE
COUNTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF
1991

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

SECTION 1. Section 443, Book III, Title Two, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160,
is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. — (a) There shall be
in each municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-mayor,
sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the sangguniang bayan,
a municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a
municipal budget officer, a municipal planning and development
coordinator, a municipal engineer/ building official, a municipal health
officer, and a municipal civil registrar. A municipal cooperatives
development officer (CDO) shalll also be appointed: Provided, That the
municipality has the option to appoint a full-fledged CDO or merge
related such position to an existing position or official in an office, unit
or department in the municipal government: Provided, further, That if
the municipality shall appoint a full-fledged CDO, the municipality has
the option to set the rank, remuneration and other emoluments of the
municipal CDO subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

A MUNICIPAL NUTRITION OFFICER (MNO) SHALL ALSO BE
APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT THE MUNICIPALITY HAS THE OPTION
TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF
THE MNO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.
*(b) xxx

“(Xxx

“@ xxx


"(e) xxx.”

SECTION 2. Section 454, Book III, Title Three, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160,
is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 454. Officials of the City Government. — (a) There shall be in
each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, sangguniang panlungsod members,
a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city
assessor, a city accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and
development coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer, a city
civil registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a city
veterinarian, a city social welfare and development officer, and a city
general services officer. A city CDO shall also be appointed: Provided,
That the city has the option to appoint a full fledged CDO or merge
such position to an existing position or official in a related office, unit
or department in the city government: Provided, further, That if the
city shall appoint a full fledged CDO, the city has the option to set the
rank. remuneration and other emoluments of the city CDO subject to
existing laws, rules, and regulations;

A CITY NUTRITION OFFICER (CNO) SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED:
PROVIDED, THAT THE CITY HAS THE OPTION TO SET THE RANK,
REMUNERATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE CNO SUBJECT
TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.

™(b) xxx
™(C) xxx
“d) xxx
™(e) xxx.”

SECTION 3. Section 463, Book III, Title Four, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160,
is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 463. Officials of the Provincial Government. — (a) There shall
be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, members of the
sangguniang panlalawigan. a secretary to the sangguniang
panlalawigan, a provincial treasurer, a provincial assessor; a provincial
accountant, a provincial engineer, a provincial budget officer, a
provincial planning and development coordinator, a provincial legal
officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial health officer, a
provincial social welfare and development officer, a provincial general
services officer, a provincial agriculturist, and a provincial veterinarian.
A provincial CDO shall also be appointed: Provided, That the province,
in the appointment of a full fledged CDO shall set the rank,
remuneration and other emoluments of the provincial CDO subject to
existing laws, rules, and regulations.

A PROVINCIAL NUTRITION OFFICER (PNO) SHALL ALSO BE
APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT THE PROVINCE HAS THE OPTION TO


SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE
PNO SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.

%(b) x xx
“(C) Xxx
“(d) xxx
“(e) xxx.”

SECTION 4. A new Article shall be inserted in Book III Title V of Republic Act No.
7160 to read as follows:

ARTICLE XXI
THE NUTRITION OFFICER
SECTION 491. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES —

A) NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED NUTRITION OFFICER UNLESS
HE OR SHE IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL
CHARACTER, AND A REGISTERED NUTRITIONIST-DIETICIAN. HE OR
SHE MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN THE PRACTICE OF HIS
OR HER PROFESSION FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE
OF THE PROVINCIAL OR CITY NUTRITION OFFICER, AND THREE (3)
YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE MUNICIPAL NUTRITION OFFICER.

THE APPOINTMENT OF A NUTRITION OFFICER SHALL BE
MANDATORY FOR PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS.

B) THE NUTRITION OFFICER SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1) TAKE CHARGE OF THE OFFICE ON NUTRITION SERVICES,
SUPERVISE THE PERSONNEL AND STAFF OF SAID OFFICE,
FORMULATE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES AND RULES
AND REGULATIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE SAID OFFICE FOR
THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY
BE, IN ORDER TO ASSIST HIM OR HER IN THE EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NUTRITION SERVICES PROGRAM
GEARED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF NUTRITION-RELATED PROJECTS
AND ACTIVITIES IN COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL
NUTRITION COUNCIL (NC);

2) FORMULATE MEASURES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
SANGGUNIAN AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT
TO THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, IN CARRYING
OUT NUTRITION ACTIVITIES;


3) DEVELOP PLANS AND STRATEGIES AND UPON APPROVAL
THEREOF BY THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE,
IMPLEMENT THE SAME, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH HAVE TO DO
WITH NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS WHICH THE
GOVERNOR OR MAYOR IS EMPOWERED TO IMPLEMENT AND WHICH
THE SANGGUNIAN IS EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE FOR UNDER THIS
CODE;

4) IN ADDITION TO THE FOLLOWING DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS, THE
NUTRITION OFFICER SHALL :

IT) FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES, PLANS,
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS TO PROMOTE THE NUTRITION OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED;

TI) ADVISE THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE,
AND THE SANGGUNIAN ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO NUTRITION;

TIT) EXECUTE AND ENFORCE LAWS AND REGULATIONS
RELATING TO NUTRITION;

IV) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN, THROUGH THE
LOCAL HEALTH BOARD, THE ENACTMENT OF SUCH ORDINANCES AS
HE OR SHE MAY DEEM NECESSARY FOR THE DELIVERY OF
NUTRITION-RELATED SERVICES;

V) CONDUCT NUTRITION INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS; AND,

VI) IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCIAL NUTRITION OFFICER,
EXERCISE GENERAL SUPERVISION OVER NUTRITION OFFICERS OF
COMPONENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, IN COORDINATION
WITH THE NNC.

SECTION 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within ninety (90) days from
the promulgation of this Act, the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), in coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), shall promulgate
the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, memorandum circulars, or issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Separability Clause - If any part, section or provision of this Act shall
be held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
full publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.