Sixteenth Congress of the 
Republic of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
'~1o i"") A: 
S.B. No. ;::, 1 ,~ 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution emphatically directs the State to promote and protect physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of the youth. Likewise, it mandates the protection and 
promotion of the right to health of the people, and instill health consciousness among them. 
Great emphasis has always been given to the provision of facilities, teaching materials, 
new equipment and technology, and on the upgrading of teachers' competencies for the 
attaimnent of quality basic education. But it is inescapably true that the best teachers in the world 
using the hest equipment and materials available will fail unless the learner is ready to learn. 
Education is a function of the educatee. If the learning child is handicapped in any way, so is his 
potential for learning and change. 
School health and nutrition has recently emerged as an enabling factor in education. It is 
realized that the state of the children's health and nutritional status determines their active 
learning capacities. A critical look at the school health and nutrition profile during CY 1995 
revealed the following: considerably low nutrition status, ailments, eye and ear defects, 
tuberculosis, lack of health/nutrition facilities, low personnel/pupil ratio, old office equipment. 
Thus, this measure will provide for the framework and mechanism for the modernization 
of the School Health and Nutrition Program which has now become inadequate and outdated 
considering the phenomenal increase of the student population and the new thrust in health and 
nutrition program. 
The approval of this measure is thus earnestly urged .. 


Sixteenth Congress of the 
Republic of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
') '') A 
S.B. No. 
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Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH AND 
NUTRITION PROGRAM (SHNP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 
AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and then House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Nutrition Modernization Act. - This Act shall he known as the "School 
Health". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
promote, maintain and protect the health and nutritional well-being of the school population 
through the delivery of preventive health care to the students, teachers and school administrators 
in the elementary and high school levels and to the non-teaching personnel. Towards this end, 
the School Health and Nutrition Program of the Department of Education shall be modernized 
and upgraded to ensure the attainment of that level of health to enhance the active learning 
capacities of the children and for the teachers and other personnel to function more effectively 
and efficiently, thus, enabling the achievement of the goals of quality basic education. The 
modernization program under this Act shall have the following principal thrusts: 
a. The development of an efficient and effective health care deliver system in the schools; 
b. The development, evaluation and application of appropriate methods and procedures in 
preventive health care; 
c. The development of refonns in the management of human and material resources; and 
d. The acquisition and upgrading of appropriate equipment and technology. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -The following terms shall be understood in this Act 
to mean: 
a) Department - means the Department of Education 
b) School Health and Nutrition Program - is a comprehensive educational and service 
package, delivered to the schools, eventually to the homes and communities, in order to 
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improve the health and nutritional status of the total school population, with the 
elementary grades children as its priority group. 
c) Public Health - the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and 
promoting physical and mental health and efficiency through organized community 
efforts. 
d) Preventive Health Care - the systematic organization of an the personal services 
necessary to prevent disease, and attain the highest level of health. 
e) Health and Nutrition Center - refers to the agency that takes charge of the over-all 
management of the integrated School Health and Nutrition Program. (SHNP). 
f) Basic education - consists of six (6) years elementary and four (4) years secondary 
education. Basic education is that which brings the child to a point where he can be an 
autonomous learner, one who is self-reliant and creative. 
g) Health Education - refers to the teaching and advice on healthy living, including hygiene, 
nutrition, sex education, and advice on alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, and other 
threats to health. 
h) Quality Education - refers to the appropriateness, relevance and excellence of the 
education given to the individual in meeting his/her needs and aspirations and those of 
society. 
SECTION 4. Objectives oftbe SHNP. -The SHNP modernization shall be implemented 
in accordance with the following objectives: 
a) To provide a comprehensive preventive health care to school children and teachers in 
the elementary and secondary levels of education and to the nonteaching personnel of 
the Department. 
b) To inculcate health and nutrition values and behavior; and encourage healthy 
lifestyles among the school populace. 
c) To give full support to school health and nutrition values and behavior. 
d) To encourage parents to provide their children with proper health care and to perform 
effective parenting to prevent drug abuse. 
e) To develop effective linkages between the school and the community for better 
school health. 
f) To strengthen the Health and Nutrition Center in the management of the program. 
g) To establish and maintain adequate health and sanitation facilities like school clinics, 
canteens, water supply, sanitary toilets and garbage disposal in the schools. 
SECTION 5. Components of the SHNP Modernization. - The modernization program 
shall consist ofthe following components: 
a. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - To carry out effectively its functions, it is 
necessary to restructure, expand and upgrade the staff and personnel of the Regional 
Health and Nutrition Units and the Division Health and Nutrition Sections including 
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the creation of nurse supervisor positions to oversee nursing care to the school 
children: Provided, That in the upgrading of plantilla positions, the compensation and 
benefits shall be at par with that of health and nutrition personnel in other government 
agencies in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. 
b. HUMAN RESOURCE DEV~'LOPMENT - This component pertains to programs and 
educational activities of health and nutrition personnel to enhance their skills and 
competencies through workshops, conferences and in-service training relative to the 
delivery of health care, and on mobilization, as well as administrative responsibilities. 
A continuing health resource development program shall be implemented. 
c. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT - This component consists of the' construction 
of physical plants and facilities such as sanitary toilets, hand-washing facilities, water 
system, school clinics and feeding centers/canteens to ensure health and nutritional 
needs in public elementary schools including suitable sites for Alay- Tanim Tree 
Planting program. 
d. INFORMAI1ON AND SYSTEMS ORGANIZATION - This component consists of the 
acquisition and development of an extensive computer network for health and 
nutrition care; and the upgrading of methods and procedures in preventive health 
care; monitoring and evaluation; and research in support to the total program. 
The Department Secretary in coordination with the Secretary of Health shall 
formulate guidelines to implement this section in accordance with the objectives of 
the modernization program enumerated in the preceding section. 
SECTION 6. Priority Programs for SHNP Modernization. - For a more effective 
implementation of the objectives of the SHNP, consistent with the declaration of policy of the 
Constitution as reiterated herein, the following programs/activities shall be given priority 
consideration: 
a. Recruitment of school health and nutrition personnel to attain the ratio of one 
personnel to 2,000 pupils/teachers over a five year period; 
b. Upgrading of the salary of health and nutrition personnel to be at par with 
counterparts in other Departments; and full implementation of the benefits of the 
Magna Carta for Public Health Workers; 
c. Provision of equipment, medical and dental supplies and medicines; 
d. Health examination of all Grade I entrants; and provision of supplementary feeding 
(breakfast and/or milk) to the Grade I pupils and nutritionally deprived school 
children. 
SECTION 7. Period of Implementation. - The Moderuization Program under this Act 
shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years. 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. - To effectively carry out the objectives of this Act, the 
initial amount of TWO HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P200, 000.00) is hereby authorized to be 
appropriated out of any Funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and from the 
funds of the Base Conversion and Development Authority, for the effective implementation 
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of the SHNP Modernization. Thereafter, such funds as necessary shall be included in the Annual 
Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 9. Separabillity Clause. - If any provlslOn of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions which are not otherwise affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations 
inconsistent with or contrary to this Act are hereby deemed repealed or amended. 
Approved, 
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