4
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
)
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1537
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(In substitution of Senate Bills No. 136,161, 831,1114,1133, 1145 and 1257)
Prepared and submitted jointly by the Committees on Health and Demography; 
Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality; and Finance with Senators 
Angara, Poe, Recto, Villar, Ejercito, Hontiveros, Villanueva, Binay and Legarda as 
authors thereof
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE SCALING UP OF NUTRITION FOR THE FIRST 1,000 DAYS 
OF 
LIFE 
THROUGH 
A 
STRENGTHENED 
INTEGRATED 
STRATEGY 
FOR 
MATERNAL, NEONATAL, CHILD HEALTH AND NUTRITION, RECONSTITUTING 
FOR 
THE 
PURPOSE 
THE 
NATIONAL 
NUTRITION 
COUNCIL 
(NNC), 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION. 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "The Healthy Nanay
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and Bulilit A c t"
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  The State under Article II, Section 15 and
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Article XII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution protects and promotes the right to health
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of the people, and makes available health and social services to all people, prioritizing
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the needs of the underprivileged, women and children.
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Pursuant to various international human rights agreements and commitments,
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the State guarantees the right to adequate food, care, nutrition, and development of
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children, especially those from age zero to two years and of pregnant and lactating
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mothers.
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The State declares its determination to eliminate hunger and reduce all forms of
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malnutrition. The State further maintains that ensuring healthy lives, promoting well-
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being, ending hunger and food insecurity, and achieving good nutrition for all at all ages
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are essential to the attainment of sustainable development.


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As such, the State prioritizes nutrition for pre-pregnant, pregnant and lactating 
women, infants and young children, to be implemented in an integrated manner by all 
branches of government, using a whole-of-government approach in collaboration with 
civil society organizations and the private sector, using the whole-of-society approach.
Towards this end, the State scales up nutrition intervention programs in the first 
1,000 days of a child’s life, and allocates resources in a sustainable manner to improve 
the nutritional status and to address the malnutrition of infants and young children from
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zero to two-years old, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, as well as, to
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ensure growth and development of young children..
SEC. 3. Objectives.—This Act specifically aims to:
(a) Provide a comprehensive, sustainable and multisectoral strategy to address
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health and nutrition problems of newborns, infants and young children, pregnant and
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lactating women and adolescent females, as well as issues that negatively affect the
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development of young children, integrating the short, medium and long term plans of the
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government to end hunger, improve health and nutrition, and reduce malnutrition;
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(b) Provide evidence-based nutrition interventions and actions which integrate
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responsive caregiving and early stimulation in a safe and protective environment over
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the First 1000 days as prescribed by the the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
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and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as nutrition-specific and nutrition-
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sensitive mechanisms, strategies, programs and approaches in implementing programs
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and projects to improve nutritional status, and to eradicate malnutrition and hunger;
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(c) Institutionalize and scale up nutrition in the First 1000 days in the Philippine
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Plan of Action for Nutrition the Early Childhood Care and Development Intervention
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Packages developed ’ by the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the Philippine
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Development Plan and the National Plan of Action for Children, and in the regional
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development, local government units’ investment plans for health and nutrition;
(d) 
Strengthen the role of the Department of Health (DOH), the NNC and other
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government agencies tasked to implement nutrition programs in the First 1000 days;


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(e) Ensure the meaningful, active and sustained participation, partnership and
cooperation of NNC-member agencies, other National Government Agencies (NGAs), 
Local Government Units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private
sector, in an integrated and holistic manner, for the promotion of the health and
nutritional well-being of the population, prioritizing interventions in areas with high 
incidence and magnitude of poverty, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas 
(GIDA), and in hazard and conflict zones;
(f) Strengthen enforcement of the Executive Order No. 51, otherwise known as 
the National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk Supplement and
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Other Related Products or the “Milk Code", and Republic Act No. 10028, otherwise
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known as the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009” to protect, promote,
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and support optimal infant and young child feeding and maternity protection, adopting
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the new recommendations from the World Helath Assembly (WHA) Resolution 69.9 to
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end the inappropriate promotion of food for infants and young children;
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(g) Strengthen the implementation of other nutrition-related laws, programs,
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policies and guidelines including multisectoral integration, gender equality and
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promotion of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC); and
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(h) Strengthen the family support system and community support system with the
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active engagement of both the father and mother with support from LGUs, the NGAs,
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CSOs, and other stakeholders.
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SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. -  For the purposes of this Act, the following
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terms are defined as follows:
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a) ‘“Breastmilk Substitute” -  refers to any type of milk in either liquid or
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powdered form, including soy milk and follow-up formula, that are specifically marketed
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for feeding infants and young children up to the age of 3 years;
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b) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) - refer to non-state actors whose aims
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are neither to generate profits nor to seek governing power such as non-government
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organizations (NGOs), professional associations, foundations, independent research
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institutes, community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations, people’s
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organizations, social movements, networks, coalitions, and labor unions which are 
organized based on ethical, cultural, scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations:
c) 
“Early Stimulation” -  refers to the process where infants and young children 
receive external stimuli to interact with others and their environment. It provides different 
opportunities for the child to explore, develop skills and abilities in a natural way and 
understand what is happening around them. 
Examples of early stimulation are 
language, motor and sensory stimulation with the aim of optimizing their cognitive,
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physical, emotional and social, to avoid undesired states in development;
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d) First 1,000 days of life -  refers to the period of a child’s life, spanning the nine
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months in the womb starting from conception to the first 24 months of his/her life, which
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is considered to be the critical window of opportunity to prevent malnutrition and its life-
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long consequences;
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e) “Geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA)” -  refer to areas
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that are isolated due to distance or geographical isolation, weather conditions and lack
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of modes of transportation. This also refers to unserved and underserved communities
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and other areas identified to have access or service delivery problems, high incidence
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of poverty, presence of vulnerable sector, communities in or recovering from situation of
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crisis or armed conflict, and those recognized as such by a government body;
f) Tow birth weight" - refers to weight at birth of less than 2500 grams;
g) “Malnutrition" refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s
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intake of protein, energy (carbohydrates and fats) and/or nutrients covering both
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undernutrition which includes suboptimal breastfeeding, stunting, wasting or thinness,
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underweight and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies, as well as overnutrition,
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which includes overweight and obesity;
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h) 
Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) — refers to low weight-for-length/height
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defined as between 2 and 3 SD below the median (<-2 up to -3 SD) of the WHO growth
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standards or a MUAC measurement of < 125mm and ^ 115mm (< 12.5cm and ^
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11.5cm).


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i) 
“Overweight” and “obesity” -  refers to the abnormal or excessive fat
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accumulation that may impair health. It is measured by Body Mass Index (BMI), which is
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a simple index of weight-for-height commonly used to classify overweight and obesity
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among adults. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the
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square of his height in meters (kg/m2). According to the WHO, adults with a BMI greater
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than or equal to 25 are overweight and a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obese. For
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children, it is defined as the percentage of children aged 0 to 59 months whose weight
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for height is above two standard deviations (overweight and obese) or above three
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standard deviations (obese) from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards;
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j) 
“Responsive caregiving” -  refers to the method where the caregiver pays
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prompt, and close attention with affection to what the child is signalling and then
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provides a response that is appropriate to the to the child’s immediate behavior, needs
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and developmental state;
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k) 
“Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)” -  refers to very low weight-for height
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defined as less than 3 standard deviations below the median (< -3SD) of the WHO
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growth standards, characterized by visible severe wasting, or by the presence of
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bipedal pitting edema (WHO), or a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)
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measurement of < 115 millimeters (< 11.5cm);
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I) “Stunting” - reflects chronic undernutrition during the most critical periods of
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growth and development in early life. It is defined as the percentage of children aged 0
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to 59 months whose height for age is below minus two standard deviations (moderate
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and severe stunting) and minus three standard deviations (severe stunting) from the
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median of the WHO Child Growth Standards;
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m) “Underweight” - is a composite form of undernutrition that includes elements
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of stunting and wasting. It is defined as the percentage of children aged 0 to 59 months
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whose weight for age is below minus two standard deviations (moderate and severe
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underweight) and minus three standard deviations (severe underweight) from the
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median of the WHO Child Growth Standards;


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n) “Wasting” or “thinness” - reflects acute malnutrition and is defined as the 
percentage of children aged 0-59 months with low weight-for-height which is less than 
negative 2 SD of the WHO Child Gro\A/th Standard median. This occurs when an 
individual suffers from current, severe nutritional restrictions, a recent bout of illness, 
inappropriate childcare practices or their combination resulting to sudden weight loss or 
the development of bilateral pitting edema. This can be reversed with appropriate 
treatment.
SEC. 5. Scaling Up Nutrition for the First 1000 days o f Life. -  The DOH, the 
NNC, in coordination with other NGAs, the LGUs, the CSOs, and other stakeholders 
shall develop a comprehensive and sustainable strategy for the First 1000 days of life to 
address the health nutrition, and developmental problems affecting infants, young 
children, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls. It shall operationalize the 
latest Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN), integrating the short, medium and 
long term plans of the government in response to the global call to eradicate hunger, 
improve nutrition, and prevent and manage malnutrition, as one of the 17 Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs).
The First 1000 Days strategy as part of the PPAN shall prioritize urban and rural 
populations who reside in disaster-prone, geographically isolated and disadvantaged 
areas (GIDA), areas with high prevalence of undernutrition, hazard/conflict-prone areas, 
and with poor families identified by the National Household Targeting System.
The NNC shall identify priority LGUs based on the presence of priority populations 
which shall be the focus of budgetary support from NGAs as provided in Section 15 of 
this Act.
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SEC. 6. Program Implementation. - The Municipal, City, and Provincial LGUs
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shall be primarily responsible for the implementation of this Act through the
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strengthening of the integrated strategy for maternal, neonatal, child health and
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nutrition. It shall be implemented at the barangay level through the rural health units
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and/or barangay health centers, in coordination with the Sangguniang Barangay, with
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the mobilization of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health


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Workers (BHWs) as frontline community-based health and nutrition service providers
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who shall be provided with resources and benefits to carry out their tasks.
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The LGUs shall institutionalize the maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition
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program and integrate it in the local nutrition action plans and investment plans for
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health. For this purpose, each provincial, municipal, and city LGU shall convene a local
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committee in charge of consolidating plans and coordinating and monitoring program
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interventions at the LGU level, to be headed by the local chief executive, and composed
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of the officers representing the planning and development office, agriculture, health,
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social welfare, education, labor and employment, budget office, and others as may be
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appropriate, as well as representatives from CSOs engaged in health and/or nutrition
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interventions,.
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The NNC and related NGAs shall provide appropriate technical assistance to
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respective LGU counterparts in the development, formulation, and implementation of
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this Act.
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SEC. 7. Program Components. - 
The program shall include health and
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nutrition services and interventions provided at the different life stages. The LGUs
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(Municipal, City, and Provincial), appropriate NGAs, CSOs, and other stakeholders shall
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work together to ensure the delivery of these services and interventions.
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1) Prenatal Period (First 270 Days) -  Prenatal care services at the facility and
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community level shall include but not be limited to the following:
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a) Pregnancy tracking and enrollment to antenatal care services (ANC);
b) Regular follow up to complete the recommended minimum number of 
quality ANC care visits with proper referral for high-risk pregnancies;
c) Provision of maternal immunizations including tetanus and diphtheria 
toxoid vaccine for the prevention of neonatal tetanus;
d) Preparation of birth and emergency plans and appropriate plans for 
breastfeeding and rooming-in;


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e) Counselling on maternal nutrition, appropriate infant and young child 
feeding practices (e.g. exclusive breastfeeding for six months, continued 
with complementary feeding of diverse, indigenous food until 24 months), 
smoking cessation, and adoption of healthy lifestyle practices;
f) Early identification and management of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant 
women and pregnant adolescent girls and provision of ready-to-use 
supplementary food (RUSF) in addition to dietary supplementation, as 
appropriate;
g) Provision of micronutrient supplements such as iron, folic acid, calcium, 
iodine in areas with low utilization of iodized salt and high incidence of 
iodine deficiency disorders, and other micronutrients deemed necessary 
based on recent evidence;
h) Promotion of the consumption of iodized salt and foods fortified with 
micronutrients including folic acid, iron. Vitamin A and other micronutrients 
deemed necessary based on recent evidence;
i) Assessment of risk for parasitism and provision of anti-helminthic 
medicines;
j) Provision of oral health services including oral health assessment;
k) Counselling on proper hand-washing, environmental sanitation, and 
personal hygiene;
l) Counselling on and utilization responsible parenthood and family health 
services;
m) PhilHealth enrollment and linkages to facility and community-based health 
and nutrition workers and volunteers;
n) Social welfare support to improve access to health and nutrition services 
such as but not limited to dietary supplementation, healthy food products 
and commodities for nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women belonging to 
poorest of the poor families;
o) Maternity protection during pregnancy;


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p) Counselling and support to parents/ caregivers on parent/ caregiver-
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infant/child interaction for responsive care and early stimulation for early
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childhood development:
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q) Provision of counseiiing and psychosocial support to both mother and
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father with priority to highly at-risk pregnant women and adolescent girls
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belonging to poorest of the poor families: and
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r) Others as may be determined based on international and national
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guidelines and evidence generated locally.
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2) Women about to give birth and immediate postpartum period. - Health
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and nutrition services at the facility and community level shall include but not be limited
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to the following:
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a) Adherence to the couple’s birth, breastfeeding, and rooming-in plans:
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b) Provision of mother-friendly practices during labor and delivery in line with
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and in compliance to the Mother and Baby-Friendly Health Facility Initiative
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(MBFHFI) and current essential maternal and newborn care protocols of the
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DOH:
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c) Monitoring of the progress of labor and the well-being of both the mother and 
the fetus and provision of interventions to any health issue that may arise:
d) Identification of high-risk newborns that will be delivered, the premature, small 
for gestational age (SGA), and/or low birth weight infants, and the provision of 
preventive interventions to reduce complications of prematurity or low birth 
weight:
e) Coverage and utilization of PhilHealth benefit packages for maternal care:
f) Nutrition counselling and provision of nutritious food and meals at the facility, 
most especially for women who gave birth to babies who are pre-term, smali for 
gestational age, or low birth weight, until discharge:
g) Provision of lactation management services to support breastfeeding initiation 
and exclusive breastfeeding for six months, most especially for caesarean 
deliveries, and thereafter until discharge:


h) Counselling on proper hand-washing, environmental sanitation, and personal 
hygiene;
i) Counselling on and utilization of responsible parenthood and family health 
services:
j) Maintenance of non-separation of the mother and her newborn and rooming- 
in for early breastfeeding initiation;
k) Assurance of women and child friendly-spaces during calamities, disasters, 
or other emergencies where health and nutrition services for women and children 
shall be provided and expectant mothers will be able to give birth following 
prescribed maternal and intrapartum protocol;
l) Provision of support to fathers to ensure their commitment to support the 
mother and child on proper health and nutrition care and provide necessary 
counselling and positive parenting support interventions (PSI);
m) Counselling and support to parents/ caregivers on parent/ caregiver- 
infant/child interaction for responsive care and early stimulation for early 
childhood development; and
n) Others as may be determined based on international and national guidelines 
and evidence generated locally.
3) Post-partum and lactating women. - Health and nutrition services at the
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facility and community level shall include but not be limited to the following:
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a) 
Follow-up visits to health facilities where they gave birth:
b) 
Home visits for women in difficult-to-reach communities especially if located in 
a GIDA;
c) 
Lactation support and counselling from birth up to two years and beyond, 
including those women who will return to work and for women in the informal 
economies;
d) 
Nutrition assessment and counselling to meet the demands of lactation in 
health facilities and workplaces:
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e) 
Identification and management of malnutrition of chronically-energy deficient 
and nutritionally at risk postpartum and lactating women including adolescent 
mothers and provision of ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) in addition to 
dietary supplementation, as appropriate;
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Organization of community-based 
mother support groups and 
peer 
counsellors for breastfeeding in cooperation with other health and nutrition 
workers;
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Lactation breaks for women in the workplaces including micro, small and 
medium enterprises;
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Availability of lactation stations in the workplaces, both in government and 
private sector, informal economy workplaces, and in public places and public 
means of transportation as stipulated in Republic Act 10028, otherwise known as 
the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009” and its implementing rules 
and regulations;
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Organization of breastfeeding support groups in workplaces, in cooperation 
with occupational health workers and human resource managers trained in 
lactation management for the workplace;
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Provision of micronutrient supplements including, iron, folic acid. Vitamin A 
and other micronutrients deemed necessary based on recent evidence;
k) 
Promotion of the consumption of iodized salt and foods fortified with 
micronutrients including folic acid, iron. Vitamin A, and other micronutrients 
deemed necessary based on recent evidence;
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Provision of oral health services;
m) 
Counselling on and utilization of responsible parenthood and family health 
services;
n) 
Social welfare support to improve access to health and nutrition services such 
as but not limited to dietary supplementation, healthy food products and 
commodities for chronically-energy deficient postpartum and/or lactating women 
belonging to poorest of the poor families;
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Assurance of women-friendly and child-friendly spaces where mothers and
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their infants will be able to continue breastfeeding during calamities, disasters, or
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other emergencies;
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p) 
Provision of support to fathers to ensure their commitment to support the
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mother and child on proper health and nutrition care and provide necessary
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counselling and positive parenting support interventions (PSI);
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q) 
Counselling and support to parents/ caregivers on parent/ caregiver-
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infant/child interaction for responsive care and early stimulation for early childhood
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development: and
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r) 
Others as may be determined based on international and national guidelines
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and evidence generated locally.
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4) Birth and newborn period (28 days). - Health and nutrition services at the
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facility and community level shall include but not be limited to the following:
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a) Provision of baby-friendly practices during delivery in line with and in
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compliance to the Mother and Baby-Friendly Health Facility Initiative (MBFHFI)
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and essential newborn care protocol of the Department of Health in all facilities
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providing birthing services;
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b) Provision of continuous skin-to-skin contact, kangaroo mother care for small
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babies born preterm and low birth weight;
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c) Maintenance of non-separation of the mother and her newborn from birth for
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early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding:
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d) Provision of routine newborn care services such as eye prophylaxis, vitamin K
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supplementation, and immunizations;
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e) Administration of newborn screening and newborn hearing screening:
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f) Availment and utilization of appropriate PhilHealth benefit packages for the
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newborn:
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g) Provision of early referral to higher level facilities to manage illness and/ or
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other complications:
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h) Availability of human milk pasteurizer for strategic Level 2 and Level 3
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facilities with neonatal intensive care units to ensure breastmilk supply for small
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babies born preterm and low birth weight within its facility, the service delivery
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network it serves, and for use of infants and young children during emergencies
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and disasters:
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i) Assurance of a child-friendly space where exclusively breastfed infants will be
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able to continue breastfeeding during calamities, disasters or other emergencies;
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j) Social welfare support to improve access to health and nutrition services for
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newborns belonging to poorest of the poor families;
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k) Facilitated 
and 
prompt 
birth 
registration 
including 
restoration 
and
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reconstruction of birth registration documents destroyed during disasters;
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I) Counselling and support to parents/ caregivers on parent/ caregiver-
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infant/child interaction for responsive care and early stimulation for early
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childhood development;
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m) Provision of support to parents on early stimulation and responsive care for
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infants; and
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n) Others as may be determined based on international and national guidelines
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and evidence generated 
locally.
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5) First 6 months o f infancy (180 days). - Health and nutrition services at the
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facility and community level shall include but not be limited to the following:
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a) Provision of continuous support to mother and her infant for exclusive 
breastfeeding including referral to trained 
health workers on lactation 
management and treatment of breast conditions;
b) Provision of appropriate and timely immunization services integrated with 
assessment of breastfeeding, early child development, growth monitoring and 
promotion and lYCF counselling:
c) Growth and development monitoring and promotion of all infants <6 months 
especially those who had low birth weight, are stunted, or had acute malnutrition;
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d) Counselling household members on hand washing, environmental sanitation, 
and personal hygiene;
e) Provision of early referral to higher level health facilities to manage common 
childhood illnesses including acute malnutrition;
f) Identification and management of moderate or severe acute malnutrition 
among infants less than 6 months old and provision of lactation management 
services and management of medical conditions contributing to malnutrition;
g) Counselling and support to parents/ caregivers on parent/ caregiver- 
infant/child interaction for responsive care and early stimulation for early 
childhood development;
h) Social welfare support to improve access to health and nutrition services for 
newborns belonging to poorest of the poor families;
i) Provision of support to fathers to ensure their commitment to support the 
mother and child on proper health and nutrition care and provide necessary 
counselling and positive parenting support interventions (PSI);
j) Assurance of women and child friendly-spaces during calamities, disasters, 
or other emergencies where health and nutrition services for women and children 
shall be provided; and
k) Others as may be determined based on international and national guidelines 
and evidence generated locally.
6) Infants 6 months up to 2 years of age - Health and nutrition services at the 
community level shall include but are not limited to the following:
a) Timely introduction of safe, 
appropriate, 
and 
nutrient-dense quality 
complementary food with continued and sustained breastfeeding for all infants 
from six months up to 2 years of age, with emphasis on the use of suitable, 
nutrient-rich, home-prepared, and locally available foods that are prepared and 
fed safely;
b) Provision of nutrition counselling on complementary food preparation and 
feeding to mothers and caregivers;
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c) Growth and development monitoring and promotion in health facilities and at 
home;
d) Provision of routine immunizations based on the latest DOH guidelines;
e) Provision of micronutrient supplements including vitamin A, iron, iodine, and 
other micronutrients deemed necessary based on recent evidence;
f) Management of common childhood illnesses based on WHO and DOH 
guidelines;
g) Management of moderate and severe acute malnutrition using national 
guidelines and proper referral to higher level health facilities as appropriate 
treatment and management especially those with serious medical complications
h) Provision of oral health services including application of fluoride varnish to 
prevent dental caries;
i) Provision of anti-helminthic tablets for children 1-2 years old as appropriate;
j) Availability of potable source of water, counselling of household members on 
hand washing, environmental sanitation, and personal hygiene, and support for 
sanitation needs of households;
k) Counselling on parent-infant interaction for child stimulation, early childhood 
development, assessment and referral for development delays for early 
prevention, treatment and rehabilitation;
l) Counselling and support to parents/ caregivers on parent/ caregiver- 
infant/child interaction for responsive care and early stimulation for early 
childhood development;
m) Social welfare support to improve access to health and nutrition services such 
as but not limited to dietary supplementation, complementary food, other healthy 
food products and commodities, assessment and referral for development delays 
for early prevention, treatment and rehabilitation for infants 6 months and above 
who belong to poorest of the poor families;
n) Support for home kitchen gardens wherever feasible;
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o) Provision of locally available grown crops, vegetables and fruits in addition to 
other agricultural products to be used in complementary feeding and dietary 
supplementation;
p) Protection against child abuse, injuries and accidents including the provision 
of first aid, counselling and proper referrals; and,
q) Others as may be determined based on international and national guidelines 
and evidence generated locally.
SEC. 8. Health and Nutrition of Adolescent Girls. -  To address the cyclical 
nature of malnutrition among the population, delivery of health and nutrition services for 
adolescent girls (age 10 to 18 years old) at facility and community levels shall include 
but not be limited to the following:
a) Assessment of health and nutrition status and identification of nutritionally-at- 
risk adolescent girls, as well as provision of ready to use supplementary food or 
ready to use therapeutic food for nutritionally at-risk adolescent girls, as 
appropriate:
b) Provision of age-appropriate immunizations based on the latest DOH 
guidelines:
c) Provision of oral health services including oral health assessment;
d) Provision of anti-helminthic drugs for deworming;
e) Counselling on proper hand-washing, environmental sanitation, and personal 
hygiene;
f) 
Provision of micronutrient supplements including iron, folic acid, iodine, and 
other micronutrients according to guidelines of the DOH, in partnership with the 
Department of Education (DepEd);
g) 
Promotion of the consumption of iodized salt and foods fortified with 
micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, vitamin A, and other micronutrients that 
may be deemed necessary based on recent evidence;
h) Referral to higher-level health facilities to manage complicated illnesses 
including moderate and severe acute malnutrition;
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i) Counselling on proper nutrition, smoking cessation, adoption of healthy
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lifestyle practices, and family health; and
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j) Others as may be determined based on international guidelines and evidence
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generated locally.
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SEC. 9. Other Program Components -  The LCDs (Municipal, City, and
6 
Provincial), appropriate NGAs, CSOs, and other stakeholders shall likewise consider
7 
the following cross cutting components in the implementation of the program:
8 
a) National and local health and nutrition investment planning and financing:
9 
b) Advocacy, social mobilization and community participation:
10 
c) Service delivery:
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d) Health and nutrition human resources capacity development;
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e) Sectoral collaboration and partnerships;
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f) Logistics and supply management;
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g) Knowledge management and information; and
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h) Monitoring and evaluation;
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SEC. 10. Capacity-Building Barangay Health and Nutrition Volunteers. The
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DOH and the NNC, in coordination with the LCDs, shall provide practical and effective
18 
training courses to Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), Barangay Health Workers
19 
(BHWs), and other appropriate human resources to upgrade their skills and
20 
competence in the implementation of the services and interventions for the health and
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nutrition of women and children.
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SEC. 11. The National Nutrition Council (NNC). -  The NNC, an attached body 
to the DOH created under Presidential Decree No. 491, shall be reconstituted and 
strengthened to ensure an integrated approach and multi-sectoral participation in the 
scaling up of nutrition programs. The composition of the NNC Governing Board is 
hereby amended and the same shall now be composed of the following members:
a. Secretary of the Department of Health (Chairperson);
b. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (Vice-Chairperson);
c. Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development;
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d. Secretary of the Department of Education;
e. Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology;
f. Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management;
g. Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry;
h. Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government;
i. 
Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment;
j. The Director General of the National Economic and Development 
Authority;
k. Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women;
l. The Executive Director of the Early Childhood Care and Development 
Council;
m. Presidents of the League of Cities, League of Municipalities, League of 
Provinces; and
n. Three representatives from the private sector or CSOs, to be appointed by 
the President of the Philippines who shall represent any of the following: 1) 
health and nutrition professional organizations; 2) women; 3) children’s rights 
and welfare advocacy, 4) farmer and fisher folk; 5) urban poor; 6) organization 
or association of community health workers; 7) academe and research 
institutions.
Said representatives shall sen/e for a term co-terminus with the appointing
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authority.
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The heads of Departments may be represented by their duly designated
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representatives who shall be of a rank not lower than an Assistant Secretary.
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Representatives from the private sector with conflicts of interests especially as
25 
stated in Executive Order No. 51 will be inhibited from being members of the Council.
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SEC. 12. Functions, Roles, and Responsibilities of the NNC - The NNC, the
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highest policymaking and coordinating body on nutrition, shall have the following
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functions and powers:
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a) Formulate national nutrition policies, plans, strategies and approaches for
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nutrition improvement including strategies on women, infant and young child, and
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adolescent nutrition;
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b) Oversee and serve as a focal point in the integration of nutrition policies and
5 
programs of all member agencies and instrumentalities charged with the implementation
6 
of existing laws, policies, rules and regulations concerning nutrition;
7 
c) Coordinate, monitor and evaluate nutrition programs and projects of the
8 
public and private sectors and LGUs to ensure their integration with national policies;
9 
d) Receive grants, donations and contributions, in any form, from foreign
10 
governments, private institutions and other funding entities for nutrition programs and
11 
projects: Provided, that no conditions shall be made contrary to the policies or
12 
provisions of this Act;
13 
e) Coordinate the joint planning and budgeting of member agencies to ensure
14 
funds for relevant nutrition programs and projects, to secure the release of funds in
15 
accordance with the approved programs and projects, and to monitor implementation
16 
and track public expenditure on these programs; and
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f) Call upon any government agency and instrumentality for such assistance as
18 
may be required to implement the provisions of this Act.
19 
SEC. 13. Role of NNC Member Agencies, other NGAs and LGUs. 
Member
20 
agencies shall be responsible for ensuring the implementation of programs and
21 
projects, development of promotive, preventive and curative nutrition programs, and
22 
integration of health and nutrition concerns into their respective policies and plans. It
23 
shall provide additional resources in any form including technical assistance sourced
24 
from its budget in support of the local nutrition programs as a continuing involvement of
25 
the national government to local programs.
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SEC. 14. Nutrition in the Aftermath of Natural and Human-Induced Disasters
27 
and Calamities. - Areas that are affected by disasters and emergency situations, both
28 
natural and man-made must be prioritized in the delivery of health, nutrition, and
29 
psychosocial services and interventions. The national, and local governments are
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mandated to facilitate and ensure immediate delivery of basic necessitites and services
2 
including access to basic health services, nutrition services, and food supplies for
3 
proper nourishment of children specifically those from zero to two (2) years old and
4 
pregnant and lactating women.
5 
Donations of milk formula, breastmilk substitutes, and or products covered by
6 
the Milk Code shall be prohibited in order to protect the health and nutrition of pregnant
7 
and lactating women, infants and young children before, during and after a disaster.
8 
In emergency situations, donations or assistance from the private sector, with no
9 
conflicts of interest or those not involved with manufacture, marketing, and sales of
10 
products covered by the scope of the Milk Code, shall be allowed immediately in the
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aftermath of natural disasters and calamities. Strict compliance with the Milk Code and
12 
its revised implementing rules and regulations shall be observed and options for
13 
mothers with breastfeeding problems will be provided, such as, but not limited to the
14 
mobilization of breastfeeding support groups or strategic establishment of local milk
15 
banks.
16 
The DOH and other departments, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk
17 
Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC), shall formulate guidelines and
18 
mechanisms in pursuit of this Section, taking into consideration humanitarian, inclusive,
19 
gender and culture-sensitive standards for the protection of children, pregnant and
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lactating mothers stated stated in Republic Act 10821, otherwise known as 
the
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“Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act', its implementing rules 
and
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regulations and the Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children.
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SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations -  Within ninety (90) days from
24 
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall, in coordination with the DepEd, Department of
25 
Agriculture, (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and
26 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the NNC governing
27 
board in consultation with stakeholders in the public and private sectors, promulgate the
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implementing rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this
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Act.
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SEC. 16. Appropriations. -  The amount needed for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be charged against the appropriations for the DOH and NNC. 
Thereafter, such sums as maybe necessary for the continued implementation of this Act 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in coordination with the 
Department of Finance (DOF) and the DOH, shall consider the prevalence of 
malnutrition in determining the annual appropriations for the implementation of this Act.
8 
A separate budget item in the annual appropriations of LGUs shall be allocated for their
9 
action plans specified in this Act.
Priority LGUs identified by the NNC Secretariat shall be eligible to receive from
11 
appropriate NGAs supplementary funds necessary for the implementation of this Act.
12 
Said subsidy shall be included in the GAA.
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SEC. 17. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee 
— A Joint
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Congressional Oversight Committee is hereby created to conduct a regular review of
15 
the program which shall entail an evaluation of the program’s performance, impact or
16 
accomplishments with respect to its objectives or goals. The Oversight Committee shall
17 
be composed of five (5) members from the Senate and five (5) members from the
18 
House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of
19 
the House of Representatives, respectively. The Oversight Committee shall be jointly
20 
chaired by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and
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the House of Representatives Committee on Health.
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SEC. 18. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application of
23 
such provision to any instrumentalities or entities or circumstances is held invalid or
24 
unconstitutional for any reason or reasons, the remainder of this Act or the application
25 
of such other provisions shall not be affected thereby.
2® 
SEC. 
19. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, 
executive orders,
27 
administrative orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
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hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 20. Effectivity. This Act shall take affect fifteen (15) days after its
2 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
3 
Approved.
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