Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BARANGAY INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT 
APPROACH FOR NUTRITION IMPROVEMENT OF THE RURAL POOR AS A 
LINKAGE PROGRAM FOR ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND 
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Stunting, marked by impaired growth due to chronic malnutrition, deprives children of optimal 
physical and cognitive development. In the Philippines, one out of three Filipino children are 
stunted. This figure is above the average ratio, as compared with ASEAN and East Asian countries. 
Despite the downward trend in stunting, the gradual pace of reduction is still alarming. From over 
three decades until the present, the Philippine stunting rate has declined by a mere 15.9 percentage 
points – from a staggering 44.7 percent to a still worrisome 28.8 percent.  
While there are programs and initiatives that prioritize nutrition, a 2024 report by the Philippine 
Institute for Development Studies revealed that only a quarter of the Filipino children from age 6 
to 12 months meet the recommended energy intake (REI).  
Stunting not only leads to irreversible damage to a child’s long-term physical and cognitive 
growth, it also has a lasting impact on the nation's economic trajectory. Study findings underscore 
that human capital takes root in early childhood, with a healthy upbringing significantly 
contributing to sustained development. The tangible link between improved childhood nutrition 
and reduced rates of stunting underscores this correlation.1 Stunted mothers tend to give birth to 
stunted children, highlighting the urgency of a coordinated policy intervention.  
Investing in young Filipinos is therefore a strategic move crucial for advancing human capital 
development, impacting national progress. As such, the Barangay Integrated Development 
Approach for Nutrition Improvement or BIDANI Act seeks to create a comprehensive nutrition-
in-development action research program of the state universities and colleges (SUCs) and 
community colleges in coordination with other relevant stakeholders.  
1 Chakravarty, N., Tatwadi, K., & Ravi, K. (2019). Intergenerational effects of stunting on human capital: where 
does the compass point?. International Journal of Medicine & Public Health, 9(4). 
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With the formulation of the Barangay Integrated Development Plan, it seeks to combat 
malnutrition and food insecurity by mobilizing local governments, providing a roadmap that will 
address the nutritional needs of the people.  
This measure was approved on third reading by the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS 
       Representative 
    3rd District, Cotabato Province 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BARANGAY INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT 
APPROACH FOR NUTRITION IMPROVEMENT OF THE RURAL POOR AS A 
LINKAGE PROGRAM FOR ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND 
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Integrated 
Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI) Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to recognize nutrition as 
a basic human right that shall be promoted as a public good and a public concern that can be 
satisfactorily achieved through multi-sectoral support and cooperation. To this end, the State shall 
vigorously work towards the provision of the nutritional needs of the poor and vulnerable 
especially in the rural areas, and give utmost support to programs and projects that are responsive 
to the health needs of the Filipino people. 
SECTION 3. Objectives. - This Act shall have the following objectives: 
a) To encourage the cooperation and participation of academic institutions and local
government units (LGUs) in promoting the nutritional well-being of the people;
b) To develop among state universities and colleges (SUCs), and community colleges an
effective research-action network program that will improve the nutrition and general well-
being of the rural poor; and
c) To improve the nutritional well-being of the poor in the rural areas in order to enhance
their health and productivity.
SECTION 4. The Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition 
Improvement Program. - The Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition 
Improvement (BIDANI) is established as a comprehensive nutrition-in-development action 
research program of the state universities and colleges (SUCs) and community colleges in support 
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of the health and nutrition program of the national government and local government units (LGUs) 
whose target beneficiaries are the rural poor.  
 
It is a comprehensive model for building the capacity of LGUs to integrate nutrition 
concerns in countryside development programs that supports the implementation of the Philippine 
Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) to combat malnutrition, food and nutrition Insecurity, social 
deprivation, and poverty alleviation. 
 
SECTION 5. Program Goals. - The BIDANI Program shall promote nutrition-in-
development through community and other stakeholders' participation in an integrated 
management system facilitated by SUCs. The Program shall: 
 
a) Require all SUCs and community colleges to assist the government in achieving the 
nutrition targets of the PPAN; 
 
b) Engage the SUCs and community colleges in the conduct of training and capacity-
building activities for all BIDANI stakeholders on the BIDANI strategies and innovative 
practices to ensure that in-planning nutrition shall be Integrated in all areas of local 
governance; 
 
c) Promote the best nutrition-in-development practices of successful LGUs through the 
participation of local nutrition management teams; and 
 
d) Build partnerships among SUCs, community colleges, and other stakeholders to support 
the citizenry towards self-help and self-reliance; encourage citizen action through the 
Involvement of various stakeholders; and coordinate with government organizations 
(GOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), private organizations (POs) and other 
private sector groups In linking the community with existing resources. 
 
SECTION 6. BIDANI Structural/Organizational Linkages. - The BIDANI partners and 
stakeholders shall work at different levels, as follows: 
 
a) State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and Community Colleges' Partnership with 
SUCs shall be formalized through an execution of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) 
between the University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB), the national coordinator of 
the BIDANI Program, represented by its Chancellor, and the President of the concerned 
SUCs or community colleges. Upon approval of the MOA, the BIDANI Program shall be 
operationalized under the Office of the Vice President for Research and Extension 
(OVPRE) of the partner SUC or community college. A BIDANI SUC or community 
college will then choose and coordinate with Its partner LGU; 
 
b) City or Municipal Local Government Units - The implementation of the BIDANI as a 
development strategy shall commence upon the approval by the city or municipality of the 
nutrition plans formulated by the participating SUC or community college concerned 
through a city or municipality resolution. Each city or municipality shall then create a City 
or Municipal organization, such as a committee composed of heads and representatives of 


 
different city or municipal line agencies, that shall be responsible for the implementation, 
monitoring, evaluation and replication of the BIDANI strategy in the locality;  
 
c) Barangay Units - The realization of the BIDANI as a development strategy shall be 
accomplished at the barangay level. The members of each Barangay Development 
Councils (BDC) shall be expanded and the BDC shall hereinafter be called the Program 
Planning and Implementing Committee. The Committee shall be composed of 
representatives from the Sangguniang Barangay, BDC, the various purok in the barangay 
and other community leaders who shall be trained on the BIDANI strategy to ensure that 
the processes for planning and management of development programs, projects and 
activities will be participative and responsive to the needs of the residents of the barangay; 
and  
 
d) Other Stakeholders - The participation and inputs of the NGOs, POs, other government 
agencies and offices, shall be sought in the formulation of plans by the members of the 
barangay. 
 
SECTION 7. BIDANI Innovative Strategies. - To facilitate the local implementation of 
the BIDANI, the Program shall be implemented using the following innovative strategies: 
 
a) Formulation of the Barangay Integrated Development Plan (BIDP) - Upon approval of 
this Act, each barangay shall formulate its BIDP which shall include the barangay's plans 
and programs relative to nutrition, and which shall be integrated into the municipal 
development plan;  
 
b) Updating of the Existing Barangay Management Information System (BMIS) - As part 
of its research activities, the concerned SUC or community college shall continue to update 
its existing people-based information system which shall focus on the identification of the 
needs of the barangay through efficient and effective data collection. The data shall be the 
basis for program planning, management and implementation of various projects and 
activities in the barangay; and 
 
c) Implementation of the Participative Nutrition Enhancement Approach (PNEA) - The 
National Nutrition Council (NNC), and participating SUCs and community colleges shall 
utilize the life cycle approach in the formulation of food production policies and programs, 
and promote market-driven livelihood activities among the households to prevent 
malnutrition among preschool children and nutritionally-at-risk families. 
 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of the 
BIDANI linkage program shall be included in the budget of the participating SUCs or community 
college, in the annual General Appropriations Act. The LGUs shall provide funding to the 
participating community colleges for the implementation of the BIDANI linkage program. 
Participating SUCs and community colleges may also receive grants, donations, and other forms 
of financial support from foreign and local persons, institutions, and governments for the 
Implementation of the BIDANI linkage program.  In addition, the income generated by 


 
participating SUCs or community colleges may also be used to augment the fund for the BIDANI 
Linkage Program. 
 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
approval of this Act, the UPLB-BIDANI, in coordination with the National Nutrition Council 
(NNC), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the participating SUCs and 
community colleges, shall prepare and issue the necessary rules and regulations for its effective 
implementation. 
 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,