SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
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First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In a survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of 
the Department of Science and Technology, it was revealed that three out 
of ten children have poor nutritional status either having low weight-for-age, 
low height-for-age, or suffering from anemia. The data showed that there 
are more underweight, stunted, anemic, and iodine deficient in lower 
income groups. 
Indeed, malnutrition remains one of the major problems of the country 
today with an observed improvement in statistics of only 0.6% per year. 
Malnutrition continues to jeopardize the physical and mental development 
of the youth. This issue affects the very survival of an alarming number of 
Filipino children. 
Thus, it is imperative that the National Nutrition Program be 
strengthened to address the problem of malnutrition and effectively guide 
every Filipino towards a healthy lifestyle and improved quality of life. 
In view of the above, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
<C) 
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; 
MANUEL "LITO" M .LAPID 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
c' C' 
DY.,J 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
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'13 JUL-! 
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STRENGTHENING 
THE 
NATIONAL 
NUTRITION 
PROGRAM, 
APPROPRIATING 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 "Accelerate Nutrition 
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Improvement (ANI) Act of 2013." 
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SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy . • It is the declared policy of the State to 
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promote the right of children to assistance including proper care and nutrition and 
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special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other 
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conditions prejudicial to their development. 
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The State maintains that nutrition is both an end-goal and a means to achieve 
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development. It is a multi-factorial concern requiring inputs from all sectors, As such, 
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nutrition shall be a priority of the government to be implemented by all its branches in 
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collaboration with non-government organizations, the business sector, and people's 
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organizations, in an integrated manner with focus to nutritionally, and economically 
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depressed areas, communities and households. 
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SEC. 3. 
Objectives. - This measure aims to improve the nutritional status 
of the country and its citizenry. In order to achieve improved nutrition, it aims to: 
a) 
Strengthen the National Nutrition Council ("NNC") as the highest policy 
making and coordinating body on nutrition to ensure coherence of the nutrition 
programs of national government agencies ("NGA's"), local government units ("LGU's") 
and non-government organizations ("NGO's") with the national nutritional plan; 
b) 
Provide a policy environment conducive to nutrition improvement in both 
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social and economic development sectors; 
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c) 
Provide mechanisms, 
strategies and 
approaches in 
implementing 
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programs and projects to improve nutritional status and to eradicate hunger and 
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malnutrition; as well as prescribe standards and criteria for efficient and effective 
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intervention to maximize the impact for the nutritionally-at-risk; and 
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d) 
Ensure participation and cooperation on the NNC member agencies, other 
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NGA's or instrumentalities, LGU's, NGO's, and the academe in an integrated manner 
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for the promotion of the nutritional well-being of the population. 
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SEC. 4. 
Definition Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
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mean: 
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a) 
Barangay 
Integrated 
Development 
Approach 
for 
Nutrition 
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Improvement ("BIDANI") - shall refer to the strategy and network program for nutrition 
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improvement and the mechanism for integrating nutrition in development spearheaded 
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by key Regional State Universities and Colleges ("SUC's") in partnership with LGU's. 
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b) 
Household food security - access by all people at all times to nutritionally 
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adequate and safe food needed for an active and healthy life. 
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c) 
Local nutrition plan - the medium term and annual integrated nutritional 
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plan formulated by an LGU to address its nutritional problems 
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d) 
National nutrition plan - the medium-term and annual integrated nutrition 
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plan formulated by the NNC. 
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e) 
Nutritionally depressed areas -
barangays, cities, municipalities, or 
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provinces which, based on nutrition and other socioeconomic indicators, are at a 
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nutritional disadvantage compared to others. 
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SEC. 5. 
The National Nutrition Council ("NNC'? - The National Nutrition 
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Council (NNC) composed of a governing board and a secretariat, is the highest 
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policymaking body on nutrition. It shall formulate the medium-term and annual nutrition 
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plan, and coordinate its implementation. It shall provide over-all directions for the 
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nutrition plans and programs and coordinate with all other agencies which contribute 
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resources and expertise for nutrition development. It shall meet at least two (2) times a 
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year, without prejudice to holding of more frequent meetings as may be needed. 
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In order to increase its efficiency and effectiveness, the composition of the NCC 
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governing board is hereby expanded: 
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a) 
The governing board - The governing board shall be composed of 
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secretaries or head of the following agencies: 
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I. 
Department of Agriculture -
who is hereby designated as 
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Chairperson; 
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2. 
Department of Health -who shall be the Vice-Chairperson; 
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Department of Social Welfare and Development - Member; 
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Department of Education, Culture and Sports - Member; 
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Department of Interior and Local Government - Member; 
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Department of Science and Technology - Member; 
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Department of Budget and Management - Member; 
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Department of Labor and Employment - Member; 
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Department of Agrarian Reform - Member; 
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Department of Trade and Industry - Member; 
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National Economic and Development Authority - Member; 
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Commission on Higher Education - Member; and 
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Three (3) representatives from the private sector to be appointed by 
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the President. 
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The Board shall create a permanent technical committee and ad hoc committees 
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of experts as it may deem necessary, to act as the Council's advisory body on policy 
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and program matters. The members of the technical committee shall also facilitate intra-
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agency and sectoral coordination of efforts for nutrition improvement. 
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The chairperson and the members of the board and technical committee and 
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committees of experts shall receive no compensation but shall be entitled to honoraria 
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and other emoluments as may be fixed by the Board for every meeting actually 
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attended, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. 
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b) 
The secretariat shall serve as the executive arm of the governing board. It 
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shall be headed by an executive director, assisted by two (2) deputy executive directors, 
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all of whom shall be appointed by the President. 
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SEC. 6. 
Functions and Powers. - The Council shall have the following 
functions and powers: 
a) 
Formulate national nutrition policies, plans, strategies and approaches for 
nutritional improvement; 
b) 
Formulate standard and criteria for efficient and effective interventions to 
maximize impact for the nutritionally at-risk populations; 
c) 
Educate the public on nutrition and its importance to individual, 
community, and national development; 
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d) 
Oversee and serve as local point in the coordinated implementation of 
policies and programs of all member and government instrumentalities as well as other 
concerned non-government organizations charged with the execution of existing laws, 
policies, rules and regulations concerning nutrition; 
e) 
Coordinate, monitor and evaluate programs and projects of both public 
and private sectors as well as LGUs in order to ensure integration of nutrition with 
national policies; 
f) 
Generate resources either by direct solicitation or by fund raising activities 
from various entities, agencies, and the general public; acting as trustee of funds 
generated to support nutrition program and projects; 
g) 
Call upon any government agency and instrumentality compnslng the 
pillars of the executive and legislative systems for such assistance as may be required 
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to implement the provisions of this Act in order to reduce and eventually eliminate 
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malnutrition in the country; and 
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h) 
Do such act, adopt such measures, enter into such arrangements to issue 
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such rules and regulations as may be proper for the integration, systematization, 
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administration and implementation of all nutrition programs. 
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SEC. 7. 
Role of NNC Member-Agencies, other National Government 
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Agencies and Local Government Units, the Academe, and Non-government 
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Organizations in the ANI Act. - The NNC member agencies shall ensure the 
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successful implementation of programs and projects, development of promotional, 
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preventive and curative nutrition programs, and integration of nutrition concerns in their 
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respective policies and plans. They shall provide additional resources in any form in 
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support of the local nutrition plan as a continuing involvement of the national 
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government to local plans and programs. 
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They shall likewise submit to the NNC governing board through the NNC 
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secretariat yearly accomplishment reports on nutrition and nutrition related activities for 
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the assessment and evaluation of the govemment delivery system on nutrition. 
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Other national government agencies shall serve as important links in promoting 
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nutrition in development through participation in the continuing advocacy for nutrition 
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improvement, and integration of nutrition consideration in their sectoral plans and 
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programs. The local government units (LGUs), pursuant to the Local Government Code 
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of 1991, shall provide and deliver basic nutrition services and facilities to the 
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community. As such, they shall formulate, implement, manage, monitor and evaluate 
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medium-term and annual local nutrition plans. The LGUs shall organize inter-agency 
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local nutrition committees which shall be chaired by the local chief executive either as a 
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committee of the local development council (LDC) or as a subcommittee of a committee 
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of the LOC. LGUs shall integrate nutrition considerations in their short, medium and 
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long-term development plans and programs and shall coordinate with the NNC in the 
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enforcement of the Act. 
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LGUs shall recruit, train and deploy nutritionist-dietitians in every municipality, 
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city, and province; and recruit, train and deploy barangay nutrition scholars in every 
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barangay in support of the local nutrition plan. LGUs shall also submit to the NNC 
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annual reports of accomplishments of their respective nutrition plans. State universities 
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and colleges (SUC) and OEPEO - supervised schools and colleges shall intensify 
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nutrition-related training, research and extension support activities through the SIOANI 
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network program and other relevant approaches, thereby accelerating community 
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development in partnership with the LGUs. They shall likewise coordinate with their 
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respective LGUs in connection with nutrition and related initiatives. They shall also 
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submit to their respective LGUs quarterly reports of accomplishments on nutrition and 
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related concerns. 
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SEC. 8. 
Appropriations . • The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
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implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of 
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the National Nutrition Council. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its 
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continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 9. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The NNC in coordination 
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with the agencies concerned, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
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effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days from its approval. 
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SEC. 10. 
Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be 
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held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
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shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 11. 
Repealing Clause. • All . laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 12. 
Saving Clause . • Powers, functions and rights already acquired 
and existing at the time of the passage of this Act shall not in any way be abridged, 
modified nor abated, unless repealed, amended or modified under the preceding 
sections. 
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SEC. 13. 
Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
Approved, 
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