Republic ofthe Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila
Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILLNO,__9363

Introduced by Honorable Roger Gaviola Mercado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Presidential Decree No. 1569 to “Strengthen the Barangay Nutrition Scholars’ Program
providing at least one (1) Barangay Nutrition Scholars in every baranguy and providing funds
therefore” was enacted in 1978. The BNSP is a strategy for providing each barangay with
trained community workers to deliver basic nutrition and related health services known as the
Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). The BNS links communities with nutrition and retated
service providers. The program aims to address the prevailing malnutrition problems in the
country. It aimed io tackle nutrition concerns, specifically at the grassroots level, by
strengthening the role of the BNS in every barangay.

PD 1569 contributed to the significant reduction of malnutrition in the country.
However, the proportion of malnourished children is still at an alarming level. Based on the rate
of reduction in malnutrition prevalence, the Millenium Development Goal Target of halving the
prevalence of underweight preschoolers has a low probability of being achieved.

Strengthening the BNS Program is seen to be an instrument to hastening the reduction of
malnutrition prevalence. The BNSs plays a critical role in attaining a better outritional status at
the barangay level but over the years, their work has been challenged by threats of unsecured
tenure and inadequate logistics, which bas resulted to their low morale.

This bill seeks to uplift the morale of the BNS by providing for security of tenure
regardless of political affiliation and benefits not provided in PD 1569 such as a second grade
civil service cligibility, thus a chance to be hired to a permanent position in the local
government, monthly allowance of at least Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) and monthly
hazard pay of One hundred Twenty Pesos (P120.00) health insurance, and scholarship grant.

“Approval of this bill is therefore most earnestly urged.

ROGER GAVIOLA MERCADO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5365

Introduced by Honorable Roger Gaviola Mercado

ij

AN ACT CREATING THE MAGNA CARTA OF BARANGAY
NUTRITION SCHOLARS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SEC 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Barangay Nutrition Scholars”.

SEC 2. Declaration of the Policy, — The State shall adopt the Barangay Nutrition Scholar »BNS;
Program as @ human resource development strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action jor
Nutrition, which involves the training, deployment and supervision of volunteer workers called
the barangay nutrition scholars (BNS). This strategy was mandated with the promulgation of
Presidential Decree No. 1569 on 11 July 1978, which requires the deployment of one (1) BNS in
every barangay and for the National jon Council (NNC) to administer the program in
cooperation with lacal government units (LGUs)

SEC 3. Definition and Qualification. — For the purpose of this Bill, “Barangay Nutrition
Scholar’s” shall mean a trained community worker who links the community with service
providers. with the following qualifications:

1. Bonafide resident of the Barangay for at least one (1) year, with ability to speak the
dialect,
Possession of leadership potentials and the initiative and willingness to serve the
Barangay for at least one (1) years

.” Willingness to learn, and to teach what he/she has learned to the Barangay people:

Atleast high school graduates

Physical and mental fitness; and

Atleast eighteen (18) years old but not more than sixty (60) years old.

SEC 4. Number of Barangay Nutrition!Scholar/s. - There should be at least one (1) BNS in

every barangay in the country.

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SEC 5. Security of Tenure/Accreditation/Registration — After undergoing training provived in
Section 7 hereof, the BNS shall serve for at least three (3) years with yearly evaluation, Sy an
evaluation team created for the purpose, and after which he/she will be given a permanent
position in the barangay, after obtaining a satisfactory rating for 2 consecutive years,

The BNS should be a member of the BNS federation duly registered with the governmen:. and
thereby accredited by the NNC.

SEC 6. Discrimination. - The BNS should not in any way be discriminated on the basis of sex.
race and political affiliation.


SEC 7. Basic Tasks, - The Barangay Nutrition Scholar's shall pertorm the following basic ‘asks
1. Organize or re-organize the Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC)

a. Assist the barangay captain in organizing or reactivating the BNC and the
barangay network; and

b. Assist the barangay captain in training purok leaders to assist the BNS

2. Caring for the malnourished... The BNS identifies, locates underweight children through
a community survey. This survey involves weighing all preschoolers and interviewing
mothers to determine how the chifd is cared for, and the resources available in the family
for their participation in nutrition land related interventions,

Based on the results of the annual weighing, the BNS weights monthly all underseight
and severely underweight preschoolers. The BNS also weights all 0-24 mot
children to monitor their growth which is most critical at this stave. The BNS also
quarterly follow-up weighing of children, 25-71 months old, to the extent possible.

The regular weighing provides the basis for corrective actions which may include referral
to the appropriate service or implementation of nutrition projects, wgether with the
community.

mobilizing the community... The BNS also moves the community to organize into
networks of 20-25 households, or into community-based organization working for the
improvement of their nutrition situation.

4. Linkage-building.... In the preseiice of other barangay-based development workers. the
BNS may not necessarily deliver direct nutrition services to the community but serve as
linkage-builder, to ensure that members of the community. especially those with
underweight children, avail of nutrition and related services. The BNS must be aware of
the services available and of those who need these services. and establish a <:stem
through which those needing certain services are referred to the appropriate service
provider.

other forms of assistance... The BNS assists in delivering nutrition and related se-vices
which include:

Organizing mother’s class or community nutrition education

Providing nutrition counseling services, especially on exclusive breastticed

appropriate complementary feeding, through home visits

c. Managing community-based feeding programs under the

4. Distributing seeds, seedlings, nd smal] animals fromm the local agriculture office and
other government organizations and non-government organizations 10 promote home
or community food gardens, and

¢. Informing the community on scheduled immunization and other health activites but

always together with the local midwife, agriculture officer, social welfare officer. and

other workers.

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b.

6. keeping records... To help other barangay workers and the local officials. the BNS keeps
a record of the results of the regular weighing as well a record on the outrition and nealth
profile of families in the barangay.

7. The BNS also formulates a BNS Action Plan as guide in managing the different tasks
assigned to him/her.

8, in training... The BNS undergoeg a ten-day didactic raining. The waining facilitates the
acquisition of knowledge, attitadés, and skills needed for effective performance of the
tasks of identifying the malnourished, monitoring the malnourished, and referring them to
appropriate service providers.


‘Afier the didactic phase, the BN§ undergoes a twenty-day practicum to lear how to
weigh preschoolers properly and -w mothers on matters which may relate to their
child-rearing practices. During this phase, the BNS collects and analyzes data o=. the
barangay nutrition situation using the family and barangay profile torms, He or she also
formulates his or her action plan,

The BNS trainer-supervisor or the district’city nutrition program coordinator (1) CNPC
organizes, conducts, and supervises the taining. In the absence of the D-CNPC. the
nutrition action officer (NAO) assumes these responsibilities.

9. in continuing education... To reinforee skills during the formal training. BNSs also 2!
monthly meetings. During these meetings, the DYCNPC or NAO provides tm
information on proper weighing and record keeping, good nutrition. breastfeeding. or
other information to update their knowledge and skills. The D/CNPC or NAO visits the
BNS regularly dbserving and encouraging the BNS to do things correctly.

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10. Facilitates the formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and coordination of
the Barangay Plan of Action for Nutrition:

SEC 8. Benefits, Privileges and Incentives. - The Barangay Nutrition Scholar's shall enios the
following benefits, privileges and incentives but not limited to those listed below

a. After completing vo (2) consecutive years of satisfactory service. the BNS can aval
of a second grade civil service eligibility by filing the proper application with the
regional office of the Civil Service Commission. This gives the BNS a chance tw
become a full-piedged civil servant should the BNS qualify for a vacant position in
the local government;

b. The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be entitled to an allowance of at least Two
Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) per month. A certain amount shall be provided tor
building capacities of the BNS#

¢. BNSs also receive a yearly uniform allowance for the purchase of uniform t-shiz. and
jackevvest, etc, from the LGU.

d. BNSs shal! also be enrolled in PhilHealth under the Indigent Program of the [Gl

BNSs shall be entitled 10 hazard pay of One Hundred Pesos (P120.00) per montt:

The NNC, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED: and

the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. shall formulate a

scholarship program where incumbent and deserving BNSs shall be giver the

opportunity (o avail of @ scholarship grant in any institution offering 1Wwo-year
courses. In the case of BNS aged 50 and above, he/she has the option to assume the
scholarship the grant for one of his/her daughter.

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SEC 9. Code of Morality and Conduct. ~ While in the service, BNS should maintain good -noral
character and should not be involved in any crime and administrative cases. as well as any
political activities, which would be grounds for dismissal.

SEC 10. Working Hours and Related Sections. — The BNS should render at ieast eight (8+
hours a day to deliver nutrition services, and on Saturdays and Sundays, they should be on-call as
need arises.

SEC U1. Supervisory Functions/Roles of the National Nutrition Council. Whe SNC shal
provide continuing education through trainings, and the like and give recognition based on
evaluation system. and provide technical assistance to the BNS Federations to ensure their
functionality,

SEC 12. Rights to Organize. - The BNSs have the right to organize but should maintain political
neutrality.


SEC 13. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health in cooperation with the National
Nutrition Council, National BNS Federation, Inc. and other concerned government agencies and
non-government organizations, shall formulate, within one hundred eighty days (180) from its
effectivity, the rules and regulation necessary to implement this Act.

SEC 14. Budgetary Requirements. — ( to be determine during the hearing based on historical
reviews.)

SEC 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the remainder of
any provision hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and other presidential
issuances which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC 17. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its publication in at least
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,