FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 9Ir3 
. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section $5 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people 
and instill health consciousness among them. 
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 spin bifida, the 
incomplete closure of the spinal column and anencephaly, a fatal condition in which an 
infant is born with a severely underdeveJoped brain and skuJJ. 
Studies in the United States show that as many as 70 percent of neural tube 
birth defects could be prevented if all women of childbearing age consume 400 
micrograms of folic acid daily, beginning before pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin 
found naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, bean, citrus fruits, and juices 
and in certain multivitamins capsules. 
Unfortunately, a majority of women are neither aware of this prevention 
Hence, this bill seeks to provide a national folic acid education campaign in order 
opportunity, nor consuming the recommended daily amount. 
to urge women to take the simple step to prevent neural tube defects. 
MANNY ILLAR 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
I
.
 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 973 
,. , 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL FOLIC ACID EDUCATION PROGRAM TO 
PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and 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 birfh defects- 
(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 explaining the effects of folic acid in 
preventing birth defects and for purposes of encouraging each woman 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. 
(b) CONSULTATIONS WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES - In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall consult with appropriate public or private entities, 
including national nonprofit 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 nonprofit private 
entities in carrying out the activities described in subsection (a). 
(d) EVALUATIONS - The Secretary shall (directly or through grants or contracts) 
provide for the evaluation of activities under subsection (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 born 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 or 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 provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 


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