1 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
First Regular Session  
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Rep. CARMELO G. LAZATIN, JR. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING 
REPUBLIC 
ACT 
NO. 
11037, 
OTHERWISE 
KNOWN 
AS 
“MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT” TO INCLUDE 
UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ITS COVERAGE 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend RA No. 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang 
Pilipino Act” which was enacted in 2018 to establish a National Feeding Program that would cater 
to the nutritional needs of the undernourished children in public day care and elementary schools. 
 As may be noted, malnutrition is prevalent globally not only among infants and toddlers 
but to adolescents as well. It affects a child’s development, behavior, academic performance and 
overall health.  In 2020, an article published online by Acta Medica Philippina on the nutritional 
status of Filipino pregnant adolescents 14 to 19 years old in a tertiary hospital revealed that 28 % 
are underweight, 3.5% are overweight, 3.5% are obese and the remaining 65% have normal 
nutritional status.  
Meanwhile, Child Rights Situation Analysis published online by Situation of Children 
Philippines showed that in 2021, the national average of stunting for adolescents aged 10-19 year 
is at 22.3% which is considered high based on public health perspective.  
These manifest that malnutrition when left unaddressed during a child’s early stage of 
development may still be carried on during adolescence and even lead to poor health, mediocre 
performance at work through adulthood.   
Investing in a child’s growth and development means reinforcing healthier human capital 
for our country. Sadly, despite efforts of the government, many families could still not provide 
better nourishments to their children due to poverty.  
August 28, 2025
3:20 pm
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Hence, to counter the impact of malnutrition and hunger, the inclusion of the 
undernourished children in the secondary schools among the beneficiaries of the aforementioned 
Act is deemed necessary.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is respectfully sought. 
1 
CARMELO G. LAZATIN, JR. 


3 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
First Regular Session  
) 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Rep. CARMELO G. LAZATIN, JR. 
AN ACT 
AMENDING 
REPUBLIC 
ACT 
NO. 
11037, 
OTHERWISE 
KNOWN 
AS 
“MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT” TO INCLUDE 
UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ITS COVERAGE 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
   SECTION 1.  Section 4 of RA No. 11037 otherwise known as “ Masustansyang Pagkain 
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para sa Batang Pilipino Act” is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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xxx 
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“(b) School-Based Feeding Program. - The DepED shall implement a school-based feeding 
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program for undernourished public school children from kindergarten to grade TWELVE (12): 
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Provided, That the Program shall include the provision of at least one (1) fortified meal to all 
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undernourished public elementary school children for a period of not less than one hundred twenty 
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(120) days in a year;
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 PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE COST PER MEAL SHALL BE AT LEAST 
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THIRTY-FIVE (P35.00) PESOS AND MAY BE ADJUSTED PERIODICALLY TO ACCOUNT 
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FOR INFLATION OR FOR ANY NUTRITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS AS MAY BE 
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RECOMMENDED BY THE FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH INSTITUTE;  
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PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT TEN PERCENT (10 %) OF THE TOTAL COST OF 
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MEAL FOR EACH SCHOOL DIVISION OF DEPED SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO COVER 
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OVERHEAD COSTS FOR THE FEEDING PROGRAM; 
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PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT THE DEPED SHALL COLLABORATE WITH THE 
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PARENTS OF THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES AND AFFILIATED PARENT’S 
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ORGANIZATION IN THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE FORTIFIED 
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MEALS.  
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xxx 
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(h) 
Integrated 
Nutrition 
Education, 
Behavioral 
Transformation, 
and 
Social 
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Mobilization.1âwphi1 - The Program shall be complemented by a public health, nutrition, and 
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values transformation campaign to promote a holistic and integrated approach to health and 
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nutrition education. Orientation-training on the objectives and mechanics of the Program shall be 
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held among the personnel of NGAS and LGUs concerned, PARENTS OF THE INTENDED 
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BENEFICIARIES and the parent-teachers associations (PTAs) to generate support for the 
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Program. The NGAs concerned shall also endeavor to mobilize community organizations to 
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continue nutrition education outside of the school.  
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   SECTION 2. Section 5 of the same Act be amended as follows: 
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xxx 
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“(a) With the highest prevalence of undernutrition and nutrient-deficiency among children aged three 
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(3) years up to grade TWELVE (12) level;” 
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   SECTION 3. Section 8 of the same Act to be amended as follows: 
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“Section 8. Private Sector Participation. - The NGAs shall encourage the participation of 
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the private sector in the Program which shall include, among others, PTAs, private corporations, 
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peoples and nongovernment organizations and such other groups or organizations, both foreign 
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and local, that may want to be partner in whole or in part with the implementation of the Program. 
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PROVIDED, THAT THE DEPED SHALL PRIORITIZE ITS LINKAGES WITH SMEs AND 
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COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES TO SUPPLY THE MEALS FOR THE FEEDING 
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PROGRAM, WHENEVER APPLICABLE.”  
 
 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall remain valid.  
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause- All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
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administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this 
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Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.  
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SECTION 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen [15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
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 Approved, 
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