SIX1EENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
f{'lENA,[~ 9 
S.B.NO._' _ 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
Explanatory Note 
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The World Health Organization (WHO) said that hunger and malnutrition are the world's 
greatest threats to public health. Ditto, in the Philippines. 
, 
.. Col1sider the following statistics: 
• 
In a newspaper reportl, the United Nations (UN) has estimated that six million Filipino 
children are malnourished and around 66 % under the age of six do not have childcare; 
• 
The same report is mirrored in a survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS) for the 
Third Quarter of 2012 citing that 21 % or at least 4.3 million households experienced 
having nothing to eat in the last three months prior to the survey period; 
• 
Malnutrition has long been a serious concern in Mindanao where a significant number of 
children are already undernourished, as cited by the UNICEF; 
• 
In a news report featured on Christmas Day of 2012\ it stated the banner story "Poverty 
pushes more than half of elementary pupils to severe malnutrition. And that as the 
Department of Education disclosed: 562,262 pupils in kindergarten and elementary levels 
enrolled in public schools this year have been considered "severely wasted" based on 
nutritional status as of August 31, 2012. 
Hunger and malnutrition must be addressed, especially amongst children. Now. 
It is a premium rationale for this bill that the government must now institutionalize a Free 
Nutri-Meals Program to be known as the Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program for children 
in all public elementary schools and high schools. Priority must be accorded to getting 
quality nutrition to prevent malputrition to co-exist with diseases. 
The bill is highlighted by the following provisions: 
1. It institutionalizes the Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program and for its feasible 
implementation, initially school children in the elementary levels including kindergarten 
in public schools shall be given free nutritious meals. Following the K-12 Policy, it shall 
cover pupils in the Kindergarten and Grades I-VI. On its third year of implementation, 
the Program shall cover all levels of public elementary schools including kindergarten 
and Junior High School Level of the K-12 Policy. On its fifth year of implementation, 
the Program shall cover both elementary and high school levels in the K -12 public 
education sector. 
2. As the legislation recognizes administrative and resources limitations, public schools in 
areas where severe malnutrition are reported, armed conflict and highly congested are, . 
accorded prioritization. 
1 Philippine Star, October 11, 2012 
2 www.inguirer.net,'December 25, 2012, paraphrased 


3. Private sector support is encouraged in this Act. It can be through their respective 
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities or through simple donations to public 
schools. 
4. A unified super body composed of relevant government agencies is created. The reason 
is (0 have an integrated approach to oversee the meaningful implementation of the 
Program. 
It is the full intent of this legislation to seek the full patiicipation of all relevant departments 
in the bureaucracy and other sectors including those most vulnerable to hunger so that it can 
be meaningfully implemented. 
Our children and our children's children must be spared 
from the bondage of poverty so that they can have true opportunity in the future. 
With the recognition that the 1987 Philippine Constitution enshrined a basic policy and that 
the same must be fully realized, "the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that 
will ensure x x x an improved quality of life for all," the early enactment of this policy 
measure is earnestly sought. 


I 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Poe 
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AN ACT 
INSTITUTING A FREE NUTRI-MEALS PROGRAM TO CHILDREN ENROLLED IN 
ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS INCLUDING .KINDERGARTEN AND HIGH 
SCHOOLS 
IN 
THE 
K-12 
PUBLIC 
EDUCATION 
SECTOR, 
PROVIDING 
FRAMEWORK FOR ITS MEANINGFUL IMPLEMENTATION, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled; 
. 
Section 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Act of 
2013" 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is a declared policy of the State that it shall promote 
a just and dynamic social order that will ensure an improved quality of life for all. Towards this 
end, 
it is the objective of this Act to provide a government-united and practical feasible 
approach to address the issue of malnutrition and hunger among school children in public 
elementary schools including kindergarten and high schools through the institutionalization of 
the Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program (Free Nutri-Meals for Filipino Children in Public 
I 
Schools Program as cited in this Act or Program, for brevity). 
Section 3. Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program (Free Lunch for Filipino Children 
in Public Schools Program - To improve the attendance, nutrition, health, and academic 
performance of school children in public elementary and high schools, a Sustansiya sa Batang 
Pilipino Program (Free Nutri-Meals for Filipino Children in Public Schools Program) is hereby 
institutionalized. 
The Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program is a nutrition-driven initiative and is a free 
nutria-meals program for school children enrolled in public schools. The food shall be served at 
the start of the class for five (5) days a week and to complete the duration of one hundred and 
twenty (120) feeding days. 
The Program shall follow a 5-year full implementation phase. The Program shall be 
initially implemented in all public elementary schools including kindergarten centers 
'(Kindergaten to Grade VI, following the K-12 Policy). 
On the third year after the enactment of this Act, the Program shall be implemented in all 
public elementary schools including kindergarten and in the Junior High School levels following 
the K-12 Policy. 
On the fifth year of its implementation, its implementation shall be simultaneous in all 
levels in the elementary and kindergarten and secondary education, covering both Junior and 
Senior High School Levels. 


Provided, That schools located in areas or local governments where severe malnutrition 
or where "severely wasted" pupils as defined by existing government guidelines are reported, 
schools located in areas of armed conflict and schools located in highly congested areas shall be 
accorded prioritization in the implementation of this Act. 
Section 4. 
Child Nutrition Network. ~ There is hereby created a Child Nutrition 
Network (CNN), a super body that will implement the Program. It shall be composed of the 
Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD), the Department of A6>Ticulture (DA), the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the Food 
and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and the Department of Health (DOH). The Secretary of 
DepEd and the Secretary ofDSWD shall be Co-Chairpersons of the CNN. 
The super body shall then establish a Nutrition Framework for its implementation. The 
Nutrition Framework, among others, will serve as blueprint containing the details of its 
implementation; integrated package of nutrition services; institutionalization of a system of 
qua lification, accreditation and the corresponding incentives for private corporations; 
development of a data base of information, knowledge and best practices for nutrition programs; 
food and health aspects of school-based implementation; monitoring progress report on children; 
participation of communities and civil society and private-public sector partnership. 
Section 5. 
Integrated Nutrition Education and Social Preparation.. The National 
Lunch Program shall be complemented by public health and nutrition education campaign 
programs, which aims to promote a holistic and integrated approach to health and nutrition 
education of school pupils. For this purpose, relevant and user-friendly nutrition information and 
education materials shall be developed and distributed in the public school. Orientation-training 
shall be held among DepEd health and nutrition unit personnel at the regional and division 
levels, concerned local government representatives, and the parent-teacher associations (PTAs), 
in order to orient them on the Program's objectives and mechanics and generate support for the 
Program. 
Section 6. 
Periodic Health Examination. 
A simultaneous health examination 
including relevant vaccination and de-worming of all school pupils shall be undertaken before 
the start of the feeding program, and shall be conducted by either the respective local Health 
Officer or Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). Children found with ailments shall be giv<'1n 
proper treatment and referred to hospitals. Class Advisers shall note the progress of each pupil 
for the entire duration of the implementation of this program. The respective Principals shall 
submit a quarterly progress report to the Division Superintendent. The Division Superintendent 
shall submit the consolidated reports to the Child Nutrition Network. 
Section 7. Role of the Department of Education (DepEd). -
The Department of 
Education shall be responsible for institutionalizing the standard lunch program in the public 
education system, which will: 
a) Provide free lunch meals to all public elementary and high school children; 
b) Ensure that the standard lunch meals meet the required nutritional level for school pupils, 
in coordination with the NNC 
c) Institute a system of effective sourcing, procurement and delivery of the required raw 
materials and other necessary inputs. 
Section 8. Role of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). _. The 
DSWD shall identify the priority areas, in the cities and municipalities where malnutrition rates 
are most severe, as may be determined by the NNe. For the first two (2) years of the feeding 
program, the DSWD shall facilitate the piloting of the program in the Conditional Cash Transfer 
(CCT) areas. 
Section 9. Role of the Department of Agriculture (DA). -
The Department of 
Agriculture (DA) shall identify and accredit farmers, farmers' organizations or farmer's 
cooperatives, who can supply good quality fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy food stuffs. 


The DA, as far as practicable, shall identify the farmers and fanners' organizations from the 
locality where the feeding program is to be admini stered. The farmers shall be chosen pursuant 
to a transparent and fair selection system, which the Department of Agriculture shall design, 
promulgate and implement. The DA shall likewise provide technical aSSIstance in cost-effective 
vegetable and rice fanning within the school premises, whenever applicable. The Bureau of 
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) shall provide technical assistance in tbe development 
of cost-efTective ways of raising tilapia, and other fish resources that are available in the locality. 
Section 10. Role of the Department of Health (DOH). - Tbe DOH shall identify the 
fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods which are appropriate for the feeding programs in the 
specified locality and shall recommend these to the DA for purchaSing. The DOH shall also 
procure personnel or volunteers from the locality, preferably from the Parent Teacher 
Associations (PTAs) and provide technical assistance in the training on the proper and healthy 
preparation, cooking, and other healthy practices in relation to the feeding programs. 
Section 11. Role of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). 
The DILG shall implement an effective monitoring system that will be implemented through the 
Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), and shall institutionalize a fair and progressive system of 
compensation and incentives for the BNS, which shall likewise be sourced from the funding of 
the national feeding program in the public education system. 
The DILG shall issue 
memorandum circulars which will institutionalize a subsidized funding scheme for the 5th and 6th 
class municipalities and a national-local counterparting scheme for 3rd and 4th class 
municipalities. 
Section 12. Private Sector Participation. Private sector partnership is encouraged in 
this Act. The private entity can in the form of their Corporate Social Responsibility donate or 
adopt a school as recipient of the Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Proi,'l'am in cooperation with the 
concerned agencies identified in this Act or directly organized and coordinated with the DepEd. 
For purposes of this provision, 
the DepEd in coordination with the Department of 
Finance and other relevant government agencies may proVIde in a guideline a system of 
incentives including but not limited to creditable expenses in income tax, or discount in business 
permits registration or other assistance. 
Section 13. Appropriation. - The amount ofTen Billion pesos (Php 10,000,000,000.00) 
is hereby appropriated for the implementation of this Program and shall be sourced from the 
proceeds of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Gaming and Amusements 
Corporation. Initially, a substantial portion shall be sourced from the Social Fund of the Office 
or the President. 
The funds shall be administered by the Child Nutrition Network (CNN). 
Thereafter, such sum necessary for its continuous implementation shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
All expenditures, disbursement of funds and other activities made under the program 
shall be subject to existing government auditing and accounting rules and regulations. 
Section. 14. Implementillg Rule~ and Regulations. - The Child Nutrition Network 
(CNN) sball promulgate the necessary rules and regulations implementing the provisions of thIs 
Act, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act. Each of the member national 
government agencies and instrumentalities shall likewise promulgate the necessary internal 
memoranda, circulars and other order to institutionalize the program within their respective 
offices, not later than the date to be detennined by the CNN. . 


Section. 15 Repealing Clause. - All laws, decreed and orders or parts thereof which are 
contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
Nothing in this Act shall affect the existing food programs being implemented by other 
government agencies. 
Section. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (\5) days following its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
APPROVED,