Republic of the Bhilippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

HOUSE BILL NO.8492

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL FOLIC ACID EDUCATION PROGRAM

TO PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS

The Constitution, Article Il, Section 15, provides:

promote the right to health of the people and instill health

Thousands of infants each year are born with serious birth defects of the brain and spine,
called neural tube defects. The most common of these are spina bifida, the incomplete
closure of the spinal column, and anencephaly, a fatal condition in which an infant is born
with a severely underdeveloped brain and skull.

Studies in the United States show that as many as seventy percent (70%) of neural tube
birth defects could be prevented if all women of childbearing age consume four hundred
(400) micrograms of folic acid daily, beginning before pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin
found naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, and juices
and in certain multivitamin capsules. Unfortunately, a majority of women are neither
aware of this prevention opportunity, nor consuming the recommended daily amount.

Hence, this bill seeks to provide a national folic acid education campaign in order to urge
women to take the simple step to prevent neural tube defects.

LUIS ama lltl JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS:
Second Regular Session

House BILL No.2492

introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL FOLIC ACID EDUCATION PROGRAM
TO PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS

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 “Folic Acid Promotion and Birth
Defects Prevention Act.”

SECTION 2. Program Regarding Effects of Folic Acid in Prevention of Birth Defects. —

(A) in

(A) in General. — The Secretary of Health shall carry out a program, directly or through
grants or contracts, for the following purposes:
(1) To provide education and training for health professionals and the general public
for purposes of encouraging each women of reproductive capacity, whether or not
planning a pregnancy, to consume on a daily basis a dietary supplement that
provides an appropriate level of folic acid
(2) To conduct research with respect to such education and training, including
identifying effective strategies for increasing the rate of consumption of folic acid by
women of reproductive capacity.
(3) To conduct research to increase the understanding of the effects of folic acid in
preventing birth defects, including understanding with respect to cleft lip, cleft palate,
and heart defects.
(4) To provide for appropriate epidemiological activities regarding folic acid and birth
defects, including epidemiological activities regarding neural tube defects.

tying out paragraph (A), the Secretary

r entities, including national non-profit
private organizations, health professionals. and providers of health insurance and health
plans.



(C) Technical Assistance, — The Secretary may, directly or through grants or contracts,
provide technical assistance to public and non-profit private entities in carrying out the
activities described in paragraph (A).

(D) Evaluations. — The Secretary shall, directly or through grants or contracts, provide for
the evaluation of activities under paragraph (A) in order to determine the extent to which
such activities have been effective in carrying out the purposes of the program under
such subsection, including the effects on various demographic populations. Methods of
evaluation under the preceding sentence may include surveys of knowledge and
attitudes on the consumption of folic acid and on blood folate levels. Such methods
may include complete and timely monitoring of infants who are bom with neural tube
defects.

(E) Authorization of Appropriations. — There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 3. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

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

Approved,