FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

699

folate
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that during the
first quarter in 2006, 16.9% of Filipino families experienced hunger. This was the
highest national proportion ever recorded by the SWS since it started its quarterly
hunger survey series. The hunger was highest in Mindanao followed by the
National Capital Region, Visayas and Luzon.

Likewise, the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in 2003 showed that
malnutrition persisted among 3.2 million Filipino children aged 0-5 yeas and 2.49
million children aged 6-10 years old. These children are found to be underweight
for their ages.

It has also been observed that children who experience short-term hunger
go to school on an empty stomach. They are easily distracted and have problems
staying alert and concentrating on their lessons, thus, restraining their learning
process. To eliminate short term hunger, many schools adopted the breakfast
feeding program to improve the active learning capabilities of the children. Other
feeding programs such as food for work, breakfast feeding program, food for
school program, school milk project and others are being undertaken by the
Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and
Development( DSWD).

This bill aims to intensify efforts in solving the problem of hunger among
preschool and public elementary school of children. Under this measure,
children below seven years of age will be chosen based on the degree of food
insecurity and vulnerability using the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability
Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) in order to qualify under the program.


Likewise, public elementary schoo! children shail be given a nutritious diet
to keep them in school.

In view of the foregoing, approval of the bill is earnestly recommended.

RUFUS B. ROGRIGUEZ

<M

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
or 699
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING PRESCHOOL AND PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHILDREN FEEDING PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFORE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in
Congress Assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “National

Preschool and Public Elementary School Children Feeding Program Act of
2010.”

SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote the
general welfare of the people, especially the preschool and public elementary
school children among low-income households in the country. Towards this end,
to safeguard the health and well-being of preschool and public elementary school
children raise their level of nutrition, a National Preschool and Public Elementary

‘School Feeding Program is hereby instituted.


SEC. 3. Feeding Program. - The National Preschool and Public
Elementary School Feeding Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program” is
hereby established in every local government unit. The Department of Education
(DepEd), in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of
Health (DOH) is hereby designated to implement the program to eliminate
hunger and improve the health and well-being of preschool and public

elementary school children.

Preschool and public elementary school children below twelve (12) years
of age shall be provided a regular allotment of nutritious diet which shall consist

of basic food needed by such children.

SEC. 4. Target Beneficiaries. — To identify the beneficiaries of this Act
and to provide them with an opportunity to obtain a more nutritious diet, the
DepEd, through the local government units and in coordination with the DSWD,
DOH and DepEd, shall implement the Program using the Food Insecurity and

Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS).

For purposes of this Act, FIVIMS is a system or network that evaluates
and disseminates information about the sector of population who are food
insecure or at-risk and where they are located, the reasons they are food

insecure or vulnerable and what remedial actions are to be taken.


SEC. 5. Criteria for Determining Food Insecurity. - A composite index

of criteria shall be used in identifying the food insecure areas. These criteria are

as follows:

a) ratio of per capita expenditure and per capita income;

b) poverty incidence:

c) median family income;

d) total expenditure;

e) cereal expenditure;

f) percentage of households with safe water;

g) percentage of families with working children;

h) unemployment rate;

i) cohort survival rate;

]) percentage of underweight member of family or individual;

k) percentage of underweight adult; and

|) percentage of agricultural land under tenancy.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of
Education, in coordination with the DILG, DSWD and DOH, shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Other Food Program. — Nothing in this Act shall affect the

existing food programs being implemented by other government agencies.


SEC. 8. Auditing Rules and Regulations. — All expenditures,
disbursement of funds and other activities made under the program shall be

subject to existing government auditing and accounting rules and regulations

SEC. 9. Appropriation. - The amount of Two Billion Pesos
(P2,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial implementation of this
Program. Thereafter, any sum necessary for its continuous operation shall be

included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules,
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or

amended accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

publication in any two (2) national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.