FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'12 
MAR 19 P;;>:50 
SEN.hlIi. 
S.No. 
~ b7 
", --
'.V. f 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: "The State shall protect and promote the 
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them." 
Noncommunicable diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, obesity 
and type 2 diabetes mellitus, reportedly kill more people every year than any other cause of 
death. Four factors in the epidemiology of these diseases - poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco 
and alcohol use - are of overwhelming importance to public health. Fruit and vegetables are an 
important component of a healthy diet and, if consumed daily in sufficient amounts, could help 
prevent major diseases such as CVDs and certain cancers.l 
Thus, there is a need for legislative policies to promote and support fruit and vegetable 
consumption. 
This bill seeks to conduct a pilot program in support of efforts to increase the amonnt of 
purchases of local fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service institutions by giving 
certain administrative regions the option of receiving a grant from the Secretary of Agriculture. 
With this bill, schools would be allowed to spend some of the government funding they receive 
to buy local food ii'om local farmers. 
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JJI./Y . MIRIAM DEF~NSOR slfrtIifJO 
1 http:f fwww. who. inti dietp hys icalactiv ity fpub licationsffruit_ vegetables Jcport. pdf. 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF TI-IE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SEN.f\Ili 
S. No. ~lb7 
~I 
'I? 
Hi;' 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
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TO CONDUCT A PILOT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE 
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AMOUNT OF PURCHASES OF LOCAL FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR 
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SCHOOLS BY GIVING CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS THE OPTION OF 
5 
RECEIVING A GRANT FROM THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Local School Foods Act." 
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SECTION 2. Pilot Program for Purchase of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Schools and 
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Service Institutions. -
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(A) 
In General. - The Secretary of Agriculture (here called "Secretary") shall use not 
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more than Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) to conduct a pilot program under which the 
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Secretary will give not more than three participating administrative regions, as listed the option 
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of receiving a grant in an amount equal to the value of the commodities that the participating 
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region would otherwise receive under this Act for each of fiscal years 2012 and 2013. 
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(B) 
Use of Grant Funds. - A participating region receiving a grant under this Act may 
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use the grant funds solely to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution to schools in the 
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region. 
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(C) 
Selection of Pmiicipating States. - The Secretary shall select participating regions 
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from applications submitted by the regions. 
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(D) 
Reporting Requirements. -
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(a) School Requirement. - Schools in a participating region shall keep records of 
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purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables made using the grant funds and report snch 
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records to the region. 
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(b) Region Requirement. - Each participating region shall submit (0 the Secretary 
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a report on the success of the pilot program in the region, including information on the 
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amount and value of each type of fresh fruit and vegetable purchased by the region; and 
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the benefit provided by such purchases in conducting the school food service in the 
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region, including meeting school meal requirements. 
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SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
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unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
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patts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/fldp 19mar20 12 
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