Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3048

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF A NUTRITION
OFFICER IN ALL PROVINCES, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE
COUNTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE XXI, SECTION 491 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) has recently reported that
the current chronic malnutrition rate among Filipino children aged 0 to 2 is at 26.2
percent, the highest in 10 years.

It is said that the damage to health, Physical growth and brain development
of children affected by chronic under-nutrition—stunting in the first two years—is
often irreversible, impairing them for life and leaving them with lower chances of
finishing school and becoming highly-productive adults. Stunting, iron and iodine
deficiencies impact learning abilities and intelligence of children. Studies show that
populations affected by iodine deficiency have 10-15 IQ points less than those not
affected.?

In view of the need to provide infant and young child feeding, micronutrient
supplementation and food fortification and integrated management of acute
malnutrition, this bill seeks the appointment of a nutrition officer which shall be
mandatory in all provinces, cities and municipalities of the country.

The Local Government Code of the Philippines Provides the list of appointive
local officials common to all municipalities, cities and Provinces. It includes the
health officer who shall, among others, take charge of the office on health services
and formulate and implement policies, plans, Programs and projects to promote
the health of the people in the local government unit concerned. The list, however,
does not include the appointment of the nutrition officer to take charge of the

* Undernutrition in PHL remains a serious problem, Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco,
BusinessMirror, February 7, 2019
(https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/02/07/undernutrition-in-phi-remains-a-serious-
problem/) accessed on 29 July 2019

* Korean government and UNICEF launch First 1000 Days Program for vulnerable
communities, Unicef, _(https://www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/korean-
government-and-unicef-launch-first-1000-days-program-vulnerable-communities)
accessed on 29 July 2019


office on nutrition services and formulate and implement policies, plans, programs
and projects to promote the nutrition of the People.

The mandatory appointment of the nutrition officer is of utmost importance
in view of the need to meet the fast changing needs of promoting the nutritional
well-being of the general public, especially of vulnerable individuals and groups
within the framework of community life and consistent with the Millennium
Development Goal of reducing the number of underweight children by half until
2015.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ANGELINA Lhe D.L. TAN, M.D.

4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__3048

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF A NUTRITION
OFFICER IN ALL PROVINCES, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE
COUNTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE XXI, SECTION 491 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title V of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended by adding a
new article and section at the end thereof to be denominated as Article XXI,
Section 491, to read as follows:

“ARTICLE XX1
The Nutrition Officer
“Section 491. Qualifications, Powers and Duties.

(a) No person shall be appointed nutrition officer unless he is a citizen of the
Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral
character, and a registered nutritionist-dietitian. He must have acquired
experience in the practice of his profession for at least five (5) years in the case of
the provincial or city nutrition officer, and three (3) years in the case of the
municipal nutrition officer.

The appointment of a nutrition officer shall be mandatory for provincial, city
and municipal governments.

(b) The nutrition officer shall take charge of the office on nutrition and shall:

(1) Take charge of the office on nutrition services, supervise the personnel
and staff of said office, formulate program implementation guidelines and rules
and regulations for the operation of the said office for the approval of the governor
or mayor, as the case may be, in order to assist him in the efficient, effective and
economical implementation of a nutrition services Program geared to
implementation of nutrition-related projects and activities;

(2) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and Provide
technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in
carrying out nutrition activities;


(3) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor
or mayor as the case may be, implement the same, particularly those which have
to do with nutrition programs and projects which the governor or mayor, is
empowered to implement and which the sanggunian is empowered to Provide for
under this Code;

(4) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the nutrition officer
shall:

(i) Formulate and implement policies, plans, Programs and projects to
promote the nutrition of the people in the local government unit concerned;

(ii) Advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be, and the sanggunian
on matters pertaining to nutrition;

(ili) Execute and enforce laws, ordinances and regulations relating to
nutrition;

(iv) Recommend to the sanggunian, through the local health board, the
Passage of such ordinances as he may deem necessary for the delivery of
services;

(v) Conduct nutrition information campaigns;

(vi) Coordinate with other government agencies and non-governmental
organizations involved in the promotion and delivery of nutrition services; and

(vil) In the case of the provincial nutrition officer, exercise general
supervision over nutrition officers of component cities and municipalities; and

(5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions
as may be prescribed by law or ordinance”.

SEC. 2. Section 491 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby renumbered as
Section 492, all succeeding sections of the same Act are hereby renumbered
accordingly.

SEC. 3. The Department of Interior arid Local Government, in coordination
with the Civil Service Commission, shall promulgate rules and regulations to
implement this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its Publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,