THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
'04 .U. 26 P I :I 6 6 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
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SENATE 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of 
the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Thousands of infants each year are born with serious birth defects of the brain and 
spine, called neural tube defects. The most common of these are spin b$du, the 
incomplete closure of the spinal column and anencephdy, a fatal condition in which an 
infant is born with a severely underdeveloped brain and skull. 
Studies in the United States show that as many as seventy percent (70%) of neural 
tube birth defects could be prevented if all women of childbearing age consume four 
hundred (400) micrograms of folic acid daily, beginning before pregnancy. Folic acid is 
a B vitamin found naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, 
and juices and in certain multivitamin capsules. 
Unfortunately, a majority of women are neither aware of this prevention 
opportunity, nor consuming the recommended daily amount. 


Hence, this bill seeks to provide a national folic acid education campaign in order 
to urge women to take the simple step to prevent neural tube defects. 


’04 jyL 26 ;7 1 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
C 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
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S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL FOLIC ACID EDUCATION PROGRAM TO 
PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS 
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 “Folic Acid 
Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act.” 
SECTION 2. Program Regarding Effects of Folic Acid in Prevention of Birth 
Defects. - 
(a) IN GENERAL - The Secretary of Health shall carry out a program (directly 
or through grants or contracts) for the following purposes: 
(1) To provide education and training for health professionals and the 
general public for purposes of encopraging each women of reproductive capacity 
(whether or not planning a pregnancy) to consume on a daily basis a dietary 
supplement that provides an appropriate level of folic acid. 
(2) To conduct research with respect to such education and training, 
including identifying effective strategies for increasing the rate of consumption of 
folic acid by women of reproductive capacity. 
(3) To conduct research to increase the understanding of the effects of 
folic acid in preventing birth defects, including understanding with respect to cleft 
lip, cleft palate, and heart defects. 
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(4) To provide for appropriate epidemiological activities regarding folic 
acid and birth defects, including epidemiological activities regarding neural tube 
defects. 
(b) CONSULTATIONS WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES - In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with appropriate public or private entities, 
including national non-profit private organizations, health professionals, and providers of 
health insurance and health plans. 
(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - The Secretary may (directly or through grants 
or contracts) provide technical assistance to public and non-profit private entities in 
carrying out the activities described in subsection (a). 
(d) EVALUATIONS - The Secretaq shall 
(directly or through grants or 
contracts) provide for the evaluation of activities under subsection (a) in order to 
determine the extent to which such activities have been effective in carrying out the 
purposes of the program under such subsection, including the effects on various 
demographic populations. Methods of evaluation under the preceding sentence may 
include surveys of knowledge and attitudes on the consumption of folic acid and on blood 
folate levels. Such methods may include complete and timely monitoring of infants who 
are born with neural tube defects. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS - There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is ,held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the reminder of the law of the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 4. 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 is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
aRer its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
FN: 1982