NTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Quezon City pave:_11 JUL 2016
Tinie:__[6- 2am

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

House BILLNo,_ 1349

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has made significant strides in putting in place a holistic and
institutionalized approach in ensuring the overall well-being of mothers and their
children. In fact, within the last seven years alone, Congress has legislated laws that
seek to comprehensively improve the lives of women and their children.

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act which guarantees
universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and
maternal care was passed in 2012'. The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act
was passed in 2009" . The Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act
was passed in 2010°.

Despite these pieces of legislation and other interventions devised by the
national government, the Philippines still fell short in achieving the erstwhile
Millennium Development Goal* especially those pertinent to reducing maternal
casualty and death in childbirth®.

* Republic Act No. 10354

? Republic Act No. 10028

} Republic Act No. 10152

“in September 2000, member states of the United Nations (UN) gathered at the Millennium Summit to affirm
commitments towards reducing poverty and the worst forms of human deprivation. The Summit adopted the
UN Millennium Deciaration which embodies specific targets and milestones in eliminating extreme poverty
worldwide.

To help track progress in the attainment of the 8 goals and 18 targets of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDG) over the period 1990 to 2015, experts from the United Nations Secretariat and International Monetary
Fund (IMF), Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank identified
and selected a set of time-bound and measurable indicators. Data series on the 48 MDG indicators are


In fact, the UNFPA Philippines published that the country's goal of achieving
its target in terms of reducing death during pregnancy seems unachievable.®

This glaring fact is the raison d'etre of this proposed measure.

The first 1,000 days of a child's life is most critical for growth and
development. Consequently, hunger and poor nutrition during this period can have
irreversible consequences. Talking during the Maldives National Nutrition
Conference 2015, WHO Representative Dr. Arvind Mathur said that the worst
damages of malnutrition happen during pregnancy and early childhood — from
conception to two years, ie. the first 1000 days. The WHO Representative
highlighted that malnutrition during this period produces long term and inter-
generational problem with major economic and developmental implications’.

‘As abovementioned, the first 1,000 days is the period that begins with day
one of a woman's pregnancy until her child’s 2nd birthday. The brain and nervous
system development begins early in pregnancy and is largely complete by the time
the child reaches the age of 2. The damage to health, physical growth and brain
development of infants affected by chronic under-nutrition can cause stunting
Smaller than their non-stunted peers, stunted children are more susceptible to
sickness and have lower chances of finishing school. They enter adulthood more
prone to non-communicable disease and are less productive.

Malnutrition is responsible for almost half of all deaths of children under age 5;
virtually all of these deaths are preventable. Nearly 170 million children have had the
growth of their young bodies and brains stunted by chronic malnutrition. Women who
are poorly nourished throughout their lives are at greater risk of complications during
pregnancy and death during childbirth. The damage caused by poor nutrition early in
life can be irreversible®

In the Philippines alone, data show a large numbers of Filipino children are
undernourished: 3.6 million of children 0-59 months are underweight; and 4 million
are stunted.

The latest National Nutrition Survey showed that overall malnutrition or
stunting rate for Filipino children aged 0 to 2 was at its worst in the last 10 years at
26.2 percent in 2015—an indication that growth was not inclusive and that inequality
between the rich and the poor continued to widen. The 2015 data from the Food and
Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) also revealed that one in every two children in the
poorest quintiles was stunted or whose height was below the World Health

compiled to provide the basis for the preparation of progress reports by member states of the United Nations
(UN) on the implementation of the UN Millennium Declaration.

* MDG 4 on Reducing Child Mortality and MDG 5 on Improving Maternal Health

* nttp://www.unfpa.ore.ph/index.php/mdg-S

” http://www.searo.who int/maldives/mediacentre/national-nutrition-conference-2015/en/

© http://www.hmhb.org/2014/03/1000-days-imatter/


Organization (WHO) reference for his age. The rate also jumped by almost three
percentage points from 30.5 percent in 2013 among those under 5 years old.®

This bill seeks to establish a mother and child health care program in every
barangay, in order to protect mothers and children from malnutrition. Maternal
nutrition is vital because the health of the mother while pregnant, affects the
development of the fetus. It is an imperative to provide prenatal and postnatal
maternity care services to a pregnant woman in order to protect her health as well as
ensure the nutritional diet of her newborn child. The program shall include early and
exclusive breastfeeding; timely, safe, appropriate and high-quality complementary
food; and appropriate micronutrient interventions.

The program content of this proposed measure is key to reducing if not totally
eliminating malnutrition in the country. Hence, immediate approval of this bill is
earnestly sought.

WM,

LUIS/RAYMUND AY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

° http://opinion inquirer.net/95066 /stunting-worsens-despite-gdp-growth#ixzz4AiLTXktt


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1349
HOUSE BILL NO.

AN ACT TO PROTECT FILIPINO MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN FROM
MALNUTRITION BY ESTABLISHING A MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CARE
PROGRAM IN EVERY BARANGAY APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE
PURPOSE

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “First 1,000 Days
Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -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 and the duty of the State to ensure that no child is
deprived of his or her right of access to such health care 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.

SECTION 3. Establishing a First 1000 Days Program in every barangay. -
The Department of Health (DOH) with the National Nutrition Council under said
department shall, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute-Department of Science and


Technology (FNRI-DOST), develop a comprehensive health care program for
pregnant and lactating mothers as well as the health and nutrition of their newborn
children from 1 to 1,000 days in every barangay

SECTION 4. Program Content. - The maternal and child health care
services which shall be provided to pregnant and lactating mothers and their children
during the 1,000-day period shall include, but not limited to, the following:

a) instruction and counseling regarding future health care for the mother
and child to include pre-natal, immunization, vitamin and iron
supplementation for mothers and others;

b) health & nutrition counseling or education;

¢) proper nutrition program for pregnant and nursing mothers;

d) intensified food production project in the community for ready supply of
nutritious foods.

€) psychosocial services for pregnant & lactating mothers.

f)_ exclusive breastfeeding for the first six (6) months and complementary
feeding thereafter;

g) complete immunization services pursuant to the provisions of RA
10152 or the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act
of 2011;

h) treating mainourishes\ children with special and therapeutic food;

i) general family counseling, including child and family development; and

j) timely intervention through safe, appropriate and high-quality
complementary food

SECTION 5. Public Awareness. - The DOH and the DILG shall initiate and
sustain a heightened nationwide multimedia-campaign to raise the level of public
awareness on the program content of this law as stated in the preceding section


Education and information materials to be developed and disseminated for
this purpose shall be reviewed regularly by the DOH and the DILG to ensure their
effectiveness and relevance.

SECTION 6. Reporting Requirements. — Before the end of April each year,
the DOH shall submit to the President of the Philippines and Congress an annual
consolidated report which shali provide a definitive and comprehensive assessment
of the implementation of its programs and those of other government agencies and
instrumentalities and recommend priorities for executive and legislative actions. The
report shall be printed and distributed to all national agencies, the LGUs, NGOs, and
private sector organizations involves in said programs.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health shall, in coordination with
the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Secretary of Social Welfare and
Development, Secretary of Science and Technology, representatives of recognized
women’s and children’s organizations and academic communities, promulgate rules
and regulations necessary for the effectivity of this Act

SECTION 6. 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 shail be included in the annual appropriation of the DOH.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or
amended accordingly

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved.