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~ 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
'04 JUL 1% P12:lO 
First Regular Session 
) 
I 
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Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution emphatically directs the State to promote and protect 
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of the youth. 
Likewise, it mandates the protection and promotion of the right to health of the 
people, and instill health consciousness among them. 
Great emphasis has always been given to the provision of facilities, 
teaching materials, new equipment and technology, and on the upgrading of 
teachers' competencies for the attainment of quality basic education. But it is 
inescapably true that the best teachers in the world using the best equipment 
and materials available will fail unless the learner is ready to learn. Education is 
a function of the educatee. If the learning child is handicapped in any way, so is 
his potential for learning and change. 
School health and nutrition has recently emerged as an enabling factor in 
education. It is realized that the state of the children's health and nutritional 
status determines their active learning capacities. A critical look at the school 
health and nutrition profile during CY 1995 revealed the following: considerably 
low nutrition status, ailments, eye and ear defects, tuberculosis, lack of . 
health/nutrition facilities, low personnel/pupil ratio, old office equipment. Thus, 
this measure will provide for the framework and mechanism for the 
modernization of the School Health and Nutrition Program which has now 
become inadequate and outdated considering the phenomenal increase of the 
student population and the new thrust in health and nutrition program. 
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The approval of this measure is thus earnestly urged. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
JUL 15 Pt2:IO 
First Regular Session 
) 
S. No. 
14-40 
/ 
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
1 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FORTHE MODERNIZATION OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH AND 
NUTRITION PROGRAM (SHNP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 
AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and then House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Nutrition Modernization Act.” 
77tJee, - This Act shall be known as the “School Health 
SECTION 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. Towards this end, the School Health 
and Nutrition Program of the Department of Education shall be modernized and 
upgraded to ensure the attainment of that level of health to enhance the active 
learning capacities of the children and for the teachers and other personnel to 
function more effectively and efficiently, thus, enabling the achievement of the 
goals of quality basic education. 
The modernization program under this Act shall have the following 
principal thrusts: 
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. 
Th,e acquisition and upgrading of appropriate equipment and 
technology. 
SECTION 3. 
Det‘nitlon 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 educational 
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 
person:al 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 
PrograL (SHNP). 
f) Basic !€ducation - consists of six (6) years elementary and four (4) 
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 advice on healthy living, 
including hygiene, nutrition, sex education, and advice on alcohol and 
drug abuse, smoking, and other threats to health. 
h) Qua/ity 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. 
SECTION 4. Objectives ofthe SHNP, -The SHNP modernization shall be 
implemented in accordance with the following objectives: 
a. 
b. 
C. 
d. 
e. 
f. 
4. 
To provide a comprehensive preventlve health care to school 
children and teachers in the elementary and secondary levels of 
education and to the non-teaching personnel of the Department. 
To inculcate health and nutrition values and behavior; and 
encourage healthy lifestyles among the school populace. 
To give full support to school health and nutrition values and 
behavior. 
To encourage parents to provide their children with proper health 
care and to perform effective parenting to prevent drug abuse. 
To develop effective linkages between the school and the 
community for better school health. 
To strengthen the Health and Nutrition Center in the management 
of the program. 
To establish and maintain adequate health and sanitation facilities 
like school clinics, canteens, water supply, sanitary toilets and 
garbage disposal in the schools. 
SECTIOb 5. 
Components of the SHNP Modern/zation, - The 
modernization program shall consist of the following components: 


a. 
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - To carry out effectively its 
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 to the school 
children: Provided, That in the upgrading of plantilla positions, the 
compensation and benefits shall be at par with that 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 training relative to the 
deli,very of health care, 
and on mobilization, as well as 
administrative responsibilities. 
A continuing health resource 
development program shall be implemented. 
INkSTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT - This component consists of 
the' construction of physical plants and facilities such as sanitary 
toilkts, hand-washing facilities, water system, school clinics and 
fedding centers/canteens to ensure health and nutritional needs in 
puthic elementary schools including suitable sites for Alay- 
Tanimpree Planting program. 
c. 
d. 
INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS ORGANIZATION - This component 
consists of the acquisition and development of an extensive 
computer network for health and nutrition care; and the upgrading 
of methods and procedures in preventive health care; monitoring 
and evaluation; and research in support to the total program. 
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. 
SECTION 6. Priority Programs for SHNP Modernization. - For a more 
effective implementation of the objectives of the SHNP, consistent with the 
declaration of policy of the Constitution as reiterated herein, the following 
programs/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; 
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 I entrants; and provision of 
supplementary feeding (breakfast and/or milk) to the Grade I 
pupils and nutritionally deprived school children. 
b. 


SECTION 7. Period of Implementation. - The Modernization Program 
under this Act shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years. 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. - To effectively carry out the objectives of 
this Act, the initial amount of TWO HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P200,OOO.OO) is 
hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any Funds in the National Treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, and from the funds of the Base Conversion and 
Development Authority, 
for the effective implementation of the SHNP 
Modernization. Thereafter, such funds as necessary shall be included in the 
Annual Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 9. Separabillity Clause, - I f  any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions which are not otherwise affected 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause, - All laws, executive orders, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to this Act are hereby deemed repealed 
or amended. 
Approved.