FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1263 
I',>· 
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JUl 12 fl'] :30 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Health consciousness must be instilled among Filipinos, and schools playa vital 
role in making people aware of the importance of health care. 
The School Health and Nutrition Program (SHNP) of the Department of 
Education which is designed to promote, protect and maintain the health and nutritional 
well-being of the various sectors of elementary and secondary educational institutions, 
needs to be modernized and upgraded to maximize its contribution to quality basic 
education. 
This bill seeks to modernize the SHNP and gives priority consideration to the 
following programs/activities: 
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 medicine; 
d. Health examination of all Grade 1 entrants and provision of supplementary 
feeding (breakfast and/or milk) to the Grade 1 pupils and nutritionally deprived school 
children. 
Approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
MANNY VILLAR 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.12 6 3 
f~[h ~;n:: 
Oftl'l'-E 01· -H 'SECRE VARY 
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,JIlt. 12 ftJ :30 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "School Health and Nutrition 
Modernization Act." 
Sec. 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. Toward this end, the School Health and Nutrition Program of the Department 
of Education shall be modernized and upgraded to ensure .the attainment of a health 
status that can enhance the active learning capacities a the children and for the 
teachers and other personnel to function more effectively, thus, enabling the 
achievement of the goals of quality basic education. 
It is likewise declared the policy of the State to pursue the modernization 
program under this Act through: a.) the development of an efficient and effective health 
care delivery system in the schools; b.) the development, evaluation and application of 
appropriate methods and procedures in preventive health care; c.) the development of 
reforms in the management of human and material resources; and d.) the acquisition 
and upgrading of appropriate equipment and technology. 
Sec. 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 education and 
service Package, delivered to the schools, eventually to the homes and communities, in 
order to 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. 
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d. Preventive Health Care - the systematic organization of all 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 years elementary and four 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 counseling on healthy living, 
including hygiene, nutrition, sex education, 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. 
Sec. 4. Objective of the 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 non-teaching 
personnel of the Department; 
b. To inculcate health and nutrition values and behavior and encourage healthy 
lifestyles among the school populace; 
c. To encourage parents to provide their children with proper health care and to 
perform effective parenting to prevent drug abuse; 
d. To develop effective linkages between the school and community for better 
school health; 
e. T9 strengthen the Health and Nutrition Center in the management of the 
Program; and 
f. To establish and maintain adequate health and sanitation facilities like school 
clinics, canteens, water supply, sanitary toilets and garbage disposal in the schools. 
Sec. 5. Components of the SHNP Modernization. The modernization program 
shall consist of the following components: 
a. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - To carry out effectively their 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 the creation of nurse supervisor positions to oversee nursing care of the 
school children: Provided, That in the upgrading of plantilla positions, the compensation 
and benefits shall be at par with those of health and nutrition personnel in other 
government agencies in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. 
b. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT -
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 trainings 
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, facilities for 
washing hands, water system, school -clinics and feeding centers/canteens in the public 
elementary schools to ensure health and nutritional needs in public elementary schools 
inoluding suitable sites for the Alay-TanimlTree Planting program .. 
d. INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS ORGANIZATION - This component consists 
of the acquisition and development of an extensive computer network for health and 
nutrition care the upgrading of methods and procedures in preventive health care; 
monitoring and evaluation; and research in support of the total program. 
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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. 
Sec. 6. P,riority Programs for SHNP Modernization. -
For a more effective 
implementation of the objectives of the SHNP and consistent with/ the mandate of the 
Constitution relative to health care, the following program/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 1 entrants and provision of supplementary 
feeding (breakfast and/or milk) to Grade 1 pupils and nutritionally deprived school 
children; 
Sec. 7. Period of Implementation. The Modernization Program under this Act 
shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years from 2001 to 2006. 
Sec. 8. Appropriations. To effectively carry out the objectives of this Act, the 
initial amount of TWO HUNDRED MILUON PESOS (P200,OOO,OOO.00) is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, and from the funds of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. 
Thereafter, such funds as are necessary shall be included in the Annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
Sec. 9, Separability Clause. If any provIsion of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees,. orders, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
amended accordingly. 
Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department, in consultation 
with the Department of Health, Shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations 
within 60 days upon effectivity of this Act. 
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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