HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City
pare:0.3 AUG 2016
e:_Jor Pm
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS we
First Regular Session | BY:
251 REGISTRATION UNIT
H. B. No. _2ebe BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by HONORABLE BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A child's first 1,000 days — the period covering the 9 months of a mother's pregnancy and
her child's first two (2) years — has been dubbed a “window of opportunity." This period is
extremely crucial to a child's fair start in life. As a 2016 Philippine Legislators Committee on
Population and Development (PLCPD) policy brief emphasized:

".. [The first 1,000 days] is when nutrition trumps genetics and a person's
potential is maximized. Getting proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days is
crucial for physical growth of children, a pathway out of poverty for poor
households, and a driver of growth for countries. It prevents more than one-
third of child deaths per year, improves school attainment by at least one
year, increases wages by 5 to 50 percent, reduces poverty because well-
nourished children are 33 percent more likely to escape poverty as adults,
empowers women to be 10 percent more likely to run their own business and
break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.”

Unfortunately, many are unaware of this. Programs for antenatal and postnatal care - as
well as for newborn health and nutrition — may be in place, but more priority and policy
focus must be dedicated to ensuring that our pregnant mothers and newborns receive
proper nutrition. Thus, a more comprehensive policy regime is needed.

According to UNICEF, such a policy regime should 1) ensure the nutrition of pregnant
mothers and adolescent girls; 2) mainstream improved breastfeeding practices and 3)
improved complementary feeding practices; 4) provide improved protection against
undemutrition and disease to children between 6 and 24 months; and 5) ensure proper
feeding of children who are sick and undernourished. Support to barangay health volunteers
including training courses are likewise sought to be put in place to help ensure the effective
implementation the interventions during the child's first 1,000 days

The foregoing measure outlines and aims to establish a First 1,000 Days Program in every
barangay. Such program lays the proper foundation for the country's future growth and
development.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is eamestly sought

oxen Inbsbsnso

epresentative
Lone District, Province of Aurora


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)

FIRST REGULAR SESSION )
H. B. No. edie

Introduced by HONORABLE BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO-

AN ACT
FOR SCALING UP NUTRITION DURING THE FIRST 1000 DAYS OF LIFE
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 “First 1,000 Days Act.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The right to health is a fundamental principle guaranteed
by the State. Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution emphasizes that "The State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them.” Furthermore, as party to international human rights agreements such as the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on the Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child and to the
Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, the State commits to its obligations that guarantee the right
to adequate food, care and nutrition to pregnant and lactating mothers and children,
especially those from zero (0) to two (2)-years old

Moreover, the State commits to the Philippine Development Plan and the Philippine Plan of
Action on Nutrition (PPAN) to contribute to the improvement of the quality of human
resource in the country, and the reduction of child and matemal mortality.

The State likewise declares its determination to eliminate hunger and to reduce alll forms of
malnutrition. The State further maintains that nutrition is both an end-goal and a means to
achieve sustained development. It is a multi-faceted issue requiring committed inputs from
all sectors. As such, nutrition shall be a priority of the government to be implemented by all
its branches in collaboration with non-government organizations and the private sector, in
an integrated manner.

The State undertakes to allocate its resources in a sustainable manner thereby eradicating
malnutrition of adolecent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and children from zero (0) to
two (2)-years old.

The State finally refocuses the intervention program on malnutrition to the first 1,000 days of
a child’s life, i.e. the nine months in the womb and the first 24 months of his/her life which is
considered to be the critical window of opportunity to prevent malnutrition and life-long
consequences.

Sec. 3.Objectives. — This Act specifically aims to:

a) Provide a more comprehensive, sustainable and multi-sectoral approach to address
malnutrition.

b) Ensure adherence to the commitments and obligations such as the International
Covenant on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights intemational Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC), A Promise Renewed, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN), and
the 2016 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 2 which states that it
aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition for all. And also

Page 1


Caranavne

10
i

13
4
15
16
7
18,
19
20
21
20
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60

c)

d)

e)

9)

Goal 3 which states that it aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for
al.

Provide nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive mechanisms, strategies, programs
and approaches in implementing programs and projects to improve nutritional status
and to eradicate malnutrition and hunger.

Strengthen the role of the Department of Health, the National Nutrition Council
(NNC) and other agencies tasked to implement this Act.

Ensure the meaningful, active and sustained participation, partnership and
cooperation of NNC-member agencies, other National Government Agencies
(NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs),
and the private sector, in an integrated and holistic manner, for the promotion of the
nutritional well-being of the population.

Strengthen enforcement of the Milk Code (Executive Order Number 51, Series of
1986), and the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act (Republic Act Number
10028), so as to protect, promote, and support optimal infant and young child
feeding

Strengthen other nutrition related policies, guidelines and laws such as the ASIN
Law and Food Fortification Laws, promote good nutrition under the Accelerated
Hunger Mitigation program and the DOH Administrative Order 2015-055, entitled as
the National Guidelines on the Management of Acute Malnutrition Under 5 years old.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following shall refer to:

a)

b)
°c)

d)

e)

9)

h)

Geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) are areas that are
isolated due to distance, weather conditions and transportation, unserved and
underserved communities and other areas identified to have high incidences of
poverty, presence of vulnerable sector, communities in or recovering from situation
of crisis or armed conflict and recognized as such by a government body

Low birth weight refers to weight at birth of less than 2500 grams;

Micronutrient deficiency refers to a deficiency of nutrients required by the body in
small amounts for vital physiological functions. These include vitamin A, iron, folic
acid, iodine, zinc and other nutrients. The deficiency of these micronutrients may
result in: vitamin A deficiency (VAD), iron deficiency anemia (IDA), iodine deficiency
disorders (IDD) among others;

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation
that may impair health. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height
that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a
person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2)

According to the WHO, a BMI greater than or equal to 25 is overweight. While a BMI
greater than or equal to 30 is obesity.

Stunting refers to low height-for-age which is less than negative 2 standard
deviations (SD) of the WHO Child Growth Standard median and which is an indicator
of long standing or chronic malnutrition;

Underweight refers to low weight-for-age which is less than negative two (2) SD of
the WHO Child Growth Standard median;

Wasting or thinness indicates in most cases a recent and severe process of weight
loss, which is often associated with acute starvation and/or severe disease.
However, wasting may also be the result of a chronic unfavorable condition. Wasting
refers to low weight-for-height which is less than negative 2 SD of the WHO Child
Growth Standard median.

Anemia, as defined by the World Health Organization is a condition in which the
number of red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying capacity is insufficient to meet
physiologic needs, which vary by age, sex, altitude, smoking, and pregnancy status.

Iron deficiency is thought to be the most common cause of anemia globally, although
other conditions, such as folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin A deficiencies, chronic
inflammation, parasitic infections, and inherited disorders can all cause anemia. In
its severe form, it is associated with fatigue, weakness, dizziness and drowsiness.

Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable.

Chronic Energy Deficiency or CED or acute undernutrition, as defined by the
World Health Organization, results from negative eneray balance due to inadequate

Pace 2


Socwmudganavone

1
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

23
24
25

26
27
28
29
30
31

32
33

34
35
36
37
38

39
40
41

42
43

44
45

46
47
48
49
50
51

52
33
34
55
56
37
58
59

food and nutrient intake, problems in absorption (relatively rare) or excessive nutrient
loss (e.g. due to infections and malignancies). Undernutrition can be acute as in
famine, natural disasters or man-made. This is one of the major public health
problems in SEA Region countries.

i) Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), as defined by World Health Organization, having
a very low weight for height (below -32 scores of the median WHO growth
standards), by visible severe wasting, or by the presence of nutritional oedema
Decreasing child mortality and improving maternal health depend heavily on
reducing malnutrition

k) _ Nutrition-specific interventions and programmes, as termed by the Scaling Up
Nutrition Movement, refer to interventions or programmes that address the
immediate determinants of fetal and child nutrition and development—adequate food
and nutrient intake, feeding, caregiving and parenting practices, and low burden of
infectious diseases.

|) Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programmes, as termed by the Scaling Up
Nutrition Movement, refer to interventions or programmes that address the
underlying determinants of fetal and child nutrition and development — food security;
adequate caregiving resources at the matemal, household and community levels;
and access to health services and a safe and hygienic environment — and
incorporate specific nutrition goals and actions. Nutrition-sensitive programmes can
serve as delivery platforms for nutrition-specific interventions, potentially increasing
their scale, coverage, and effectiveness.

SEC. 5. Scaling Up Nutrition in the first 1000 days. — There shall be a comprehensive
and sustainable strategy to address the health and nutrition problems in the country
affecting pregnant and lactating women, infants and young children. This shall be
formulated by the Department of Health (DOH) and the NNC as a program to operationalize
the latest Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) which integrates short, medium and
long term plan of the government in response to the global calll to eradicate hunger and
malnutrition

The strategy shall be formulated, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, in
consultation and cooperation with other agencies, LGUs, relevant health professionals, civil
society and the private sector excluding milk companies and their representatives, in
accordance with the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Milk Code. The
health and nutrition programs shall focus on pregnant and lactating women as well as the
health and nutrition of newborns, infants and young children

Sec. 6. Coverage. - This Act covers all children covered in the First 1,000 days of life from
conception to age 24 months, including adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women,
particularly teenage mothers.

This coverage prioritizes those who reside in geographically isolated and disadvantaged
areas (GIDA) and hazard/conflict-prone areas identified by the Department of Social
Welfare and Development and the Department of Science and Technology or the National
Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council, respectively

Sec. 7. Health and Nutrition Services and Interventions for Women, Infants and
Young Children in the First 1000 Days. — Health and nutrition services and interventions
offered are the following:

a. First 270 days (Pregnancy until birth)

i. Antenatal care services at the barangay level of each local government
unit, which shall include, among others:

a) Pregnancy tracking and enrollment to prenatal care services;

b) Regular follow up to complete minimum of four (4) prenatal care visits;
) Identification of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women;

Pane 3


d) Provision of nutrition counseling to pregnant women and their family

1
2 especially on their nutrition needs and preparation for early initiation of
3 breastfeeding;

4 e) Social welfare support for access to nutritious and healthy food products
5 and commodities for nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women belonging to
6 poorest of the poor families;

7 f)_ Provision of micronutrient supplements with ferrous sulfate-folic acid;

8 g) use Of iodized salt and fortified-rich foods;

9 h) use Of iodized oil capsules in areas with low utilization of iodized salt and

10 high incidence of iodine deficiency disorders;

i i) Routine deworming;

12 j) Provision of tetanus toxoid vaccine for the prevention of neonatal tetanus;

1B oral health assessment;

14 k) Empowering women on the preparation of birth, breastfeeding and

1s rooming-in plans; breastfeeding counselling;

16 1) Counseling on avoidance of tobacco smoke exposure, illicit drug use and

17 alcohol intake, and high-risk behavior, and

18 m) PhilHealth enrolment and linkage to community health workers and

19 volunteers.

20

21 ii, Women about to give birth — Health and nutrition services at the faci

22 level, which shall include, among others:

23

24 a) Provision of mother-friendly practices during labor and delivery in

25 compliance with the Mother-Baby-Friendly Health Facility Initiative

26 (MBFHF!) and current “Unang Yakap” protocols of the DOH;

27 b) Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and non-separation of the mother and

28 her newborn for early breastfeeding initiation with family support;

29 ©) Nutrition counselling and provision of nutritious food and meals at the

30 facility; support at birth on breastfeeding initiation, most especially for

31 caesarian deliveries; and

32 d) PhilHealth benefit packages for delivery.

33

34 sb. Next 180 days

35

36 Postpartum and lactating women — Health and nutrition services at the

37 community level, which shall include, among others:

38

39 a) Follow-up visits to health facilities of the mother with her new born;

40 b) Home visits for women in difficult to reach communities;

41 ) Lactation support and nutrition counseling from birth up to two (2) years

42 and beyond, including those women who will return to. work;

43 ) Paid lactation breaks for women in the workplace;

44 ) Availability of lactation stations in the workplace and in public places;

45 f) Social welfare support for access to nutritious and healthy food products

46 and commodities for nutritionally at-risk post-partum and lactating women

47 belonging to poorest of the poor families; and

48 9) Organization of community-based mother support groups and/or peer

49 counselors for breastfeeding in cooperation with other health and nutrition

50 workers.

51

52 ii, 4st day to 6 months — Health and nutrition services at the facility level,

53 which shall include, among others:

54

55 a) The provision of baby-friendly practices during delivery in compliance with

56 the Mother-Baby-Friendly Health Facility Initiative (MBFHFI) and current

37 newborn care protocols of the DOH in all birthing facilities;

58 b) Maintenance of non-separation and observance of rooming-in of the

59 mother and her newborn for early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive

Page 4


Somuanawne

i
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
33
54
55
56
37
58
59
60

©.

°)

4)

Next 550 Days (6 to 24
community level, which shi

a)

breastfeeding; provision of kangaroo mother care for small babies bom
preterm and low birth weight;

Provision of routine newborn care services such as eye prophylaxis,
vitamin K, and birth doses of vaccines after the first breastfeed is
completed;

Availability of human milk storage facilities for health facilities with special
newborn care units to ensure breastmilk supply for the small babies born
preterm and low birth weight;

PhilHealth newborn care packages, appropriate immunization services
integrated with assessment of breastfeeding, growth and development
promotion; provision of early referral to higher level facilities to manage
illness or malnutrition;

Provision of social welfare services to marginalized and impoverished
families of infants in need of health and nutrition services and
interventions; and

Assurance of a women-infant-child-friendly and safe space where
exclusively breastfed infants will be able to continue breastfeeding during
calamities, disasters or other emergencies.

jonths) — Health and nutrition services at the
include, among others:

Timely introduction of safe, appropriate and nutrient dense quality
complementary food with continued and sustained breastfeeding for all
infants at completion of six (6) months up to two (2) years of age or
beyond;

Micronutrient supplementation with vitamin A capsules, iron sulfate drops
or syrups, and/or micronutrient powder;

Management of childhood illnesses including acute malnutrition and
severe acute malnutrition using national protocols and special feeding
during illness at facility and community level,

Immunization, growth and development monitoring and promotion;
Provision of oral health services including application of fluoride varnish to
prevent dental caries;

Provision of deworming tablets for children at one (1) to two (2) years of
age;

Availability of potable source of water;

Local government support for sanitation needs of households to reduce
food-and-water-borne diseases;

Provision of nutrition counselling and support services on age-appropriate,
safe and adequate complementary food to mothers and caregivers;

Social welfare support for access to nutritious and healthy food products
and commodities for families belonging to marginalized and impoverished
families;

Support for home kitchen gardens; and

Livelihood assistance for parents of marginalized and impoverished
families.

Sec. 8. Program Components. - The strategy or program on Health and Nutrition shall
include the following components:

a)
b)
c)
dq)
e)
f)
9)
h)
i)

Health human resource and capacity development;

Health and nutrition investment planning and financing;

Service Delivery;

Sectoral collaboration and partnerships;

Logistics and supply management;

Knowledge management and information technology;

Health promotion and education, social mobilization and community organization;
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and leaming; and

Advocacy and Policy development.

Page 5


Sec. 9. The National Nutrition Council. - The composition of the NNC Governing Board
as stipulated in Executive Order No. 234, Series of 1987, is hereby amended and the same
shall now be composed of the following:

a) Secretary of Health (Chairperson);

b) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (Vice Chairperson)

c) Secretary of Agriculture

d) Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development;

e) Secretary of the Department of Education;

f) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology — Food and Nutrition
Research Institute (FNRI);

g) Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management;

h) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry;

i) Secretary of the Department of Finance;

i) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment;

k) Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women

!) Secretary of Economic Planning and Director General of the National Economic and
Development Authority;

m) President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)

n) Chair, National Anti-Poverty Commission;

©) Five (5) representatives from the private sector appointed by the President of the
Philippines who shall come from any of the following: (1) Civil Society Organizations
coalitions, (2) academe, (3) Women or youth groups, (4) food and nutrition industry
sector, (5) urban poor, or (6) national federation of barangay health workers or
barangay nutrition scholars. Said representatives shall only serve for a term of two
(2) years

Representatives from the private sector with conflict of interest, as stated in the Revised
Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Milk Code, will be inhibited from being members
of the Council.

The heads of departments may be represented by their duly designated representatives
who shall be of a rank not lower than an Assistant Secretary or officials with the second
highest relevant position in the organization or agency.

The composition of the NNC's Secretariat and Technical Committee as defined in Executive
Order No. 234, Series of 1987, shall be maintained.

SEC. 10. Functions of NNC.— The NNC shall have the following functions and powers:

a) Formulate national nutrition policies, plans, strategies and approaches for nutrition
improvement in accordance this act with the latest Philippine Plan of Action for
Nutrition which include the strategy on women of reproductive age, infant and young
child nutrition;

b) Oversee and serve as a focal point in the integration of nutrition policies and
programs of all member agencies and instrumentalities charged with the
implementation of existing laws, policies, rules and regulations concerning nutrition;

) Coordinate, monitor and evaluate programs and projects of the public and private
sectors and LGUs relative to women, infant and young child nutrition, hunger-
mitigation, food fortification and national salt iodization programs, among others, and
ensure their integration with national policies;

d) Receive grants, donations and contributions, in any form, from foreign governments,
private institutions and other funding entities for nutrition programs and projects
Provided, That no conditions contrary to the policies or provisions of the Milk Code
shall be made;

e) Coordinate the release of public funds for the promotion of the nutritional well-being
of vulnerable groups in accordance with the approved programs and projects; and

f) Call upon any government agency and instrumentality for any assistance as may be
required to implement the provisions of this Act.

Pane &


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10
n
12
13
4
1s
16
7
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
4
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
33
54
55
56
57
58
59

Sec. 11. Role of Member-Agencies. - Member agencies based on their respective
mandates shall establish the framework for the overall implementation of the program and
ensure the following:

a) Full enforcement of the Milk Code by strengthening the Monitoring and Reporting
Mechanism of the Food and Drug Administration; strengthening the technical
capacity of the members of the Inter-Agency Committee of the Milk Code; expediting
resolution by the Food and Drug Administration of cases on violations of the Milk
Code; and ensure that it is not subjected to needless and potentially harmful
amendments;

b) Distribute information, education and communication materials, distribute
supplements, administer check-ups and vaccinations in the different barangays
nationwide;

c) Create a plantilla position for frontline health service delivery providers such as
Municipal/City Nutrition Action Officer, Barangay Health workers and Barangay
Nutrition Scholars. LGUs shall engage other community-based volunteers, civil
society organizations and faith-based organizations and provide adequate honoraria;

d) Provide sustained human resource development to health human resources,
including BHWs and BNSs, in support of local health and nutrition programs;

e) Intensify health and nutrition-related training, research and extension support
activities to support the First 1,000 Days Program through the Barangay Integrated
Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI) Network Program of the
Rural Poor and other relevant approaches, thereby strengthening delivery systems
in partnership with the LGUs;

f) Align related programs to the priorities and directions of the Philippine Plan of Action
for Nutrition and the Strategy for Women, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition. NGOs
shall also be encouraged to undertake health and nutrition-related researches in line
with the First 1,000 Days in collaboration and coordination with the Philippine
Council for Health Research and Development of the DOST, and to recommend
procedures and guidelines which promotes the same to encourage good health and
nutrition practices among employees of agencies or members of NGOs; and

9) Improve quality of data collection, data analysis and disaggregation of data and
include other available data for analysis such as Operation Timbang Plus.

The business community, with no conflict of interest with respect to good nutrition including
optimum infant and young child feeding, shall also be encouraged to provide technical and
financial assistance to facility- and community-based health and nutrition projects though
their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, as part of their social accountability
and participation in the country's bid to enhance human development and human capital
formation. This type and level of participation shall be subject to review and approval of the
NNC governing board,

To guarantee the highest integrity and public confidence in NNC and its activities, member
agencies and entities shall disclose and manage any circumstance that can give rise to any
potential conflict of interest related to their functions and the activities in which they are
involved in. In case a declared interest shall be determined as potentially or clearly
significant, the NNC, goveming board shall deliberate and decide on the appropriate course
of action.

A summary of all declarations and actions taken by the NNC governing board to manage
any declared interest will be published in a subsequent report

Sec. 12. Nutrition in the Aftermath of Natural and Human-Induced Disasters and
Calamities. - Areas that are struck by disasters must be prioritized in the delivery of health
and nutrition services and interventions. National, regional, and local governments are
mandated to immediately provide emergency services, food supplies for proper
nourishment of children specifically those from zero (0) to two (2) years old, and pregnant
and lactating women.

Ben ¥


Sowraauavne

ll

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36

No milk formula donations or products covered by the Milk Code shall be allowed in areas
that are struck by disasters in order to protect the health and nutrition of pregnant, lactating
women, infants and young children before, during and after a disaster. A joint statement by
the DOH through the Nutrition Cluster shall be issued to the effect and distributed,
exhibited, and broadcasted to inform the public.

In emergency situations, donations or assistance from the private sector, with no conflict of
interest or those not covered by the Milk Code, shall be allowed immediately in the
aftermath of natural disasters and calamities. Strict compliance with the Milk Code and its
Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations shall be observed, and options for mothers
with breastfeeding problems will be provided

The DOH and other departments, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council (NDRRMC), shall formulate guidelines and mechanisms in
pursuit of this section taking into consideration the provisions of Republic Act 10821,
otherwise known as the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act.

Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOH shall, in coordination with the Secretaries of
the DILG, the DSWD and the Executive Director of the NNC, in consultation with
stakeholders in the public and private sectors, promulgate rules and regulations necessary
for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 14. Appropriation. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall
be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year of its enactment into law.
Thereafter, the expenses for its continued implementation shall be included in the
subsequent General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative orders or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

Sec.16. Effectivity. — This Act shall take affect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,