Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
2402

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institutionalize the Essential Health Care Program for
public school children.

Poor hygiene and deficient access to safe water and sanitation are the
major contributors to the prevalent diseases among public school children in
the Philippines. The most common of these diseases are diarrhea, respiratory
infections, skin diseases, worm infections and non-communicable diseases
like dental caries. These diseases hinder and have a strong impact on the
school children’s academic learning. With poor health, children are more
likely to be absent and have inferior academic performance.

As schools have been identified as places where poor and disadvantaged
children may easily be reached not just for vaccinations but for some of the
essential health interventions, several health programs benefitting school
children were spearheaded by the Department of Education in coordination
with the Department of Health and local government units. For instance, the
Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) was initiated in a limited number of
pilot areas in 2003. The program was formally adopted by the Department of
Education in 2009, but still in a limited number of public schools. The EHCP
is a health program that instills in public school children the importance of
basic health and sanitation activities like the daily handwashing with soap,
tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste and bi-annual deworming. With
EHCP’s impressive statistical results and impact on the health status and
school attendance of children, the program was recognized for “Innovation in
Global Health” by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program
and the World Health Organization.

Notwithstanding the impressive feedback on the EHCP, the program
was dragged to a halt after years of fragmented implementation due to
insufficient financial resources.


Thus, to restore a successful and effective health program that will
benefit school children nationwide, this bill seeks to institutionalize the EHCP
and appropriate adequate funds for its full implementation.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. . SUANSING REP. HORACJ@ P. SUANSING, JR.
1st District, Nueva Ecija 24 District, Sultan Kudarat


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bilt No. _*402

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the
“Essential Health Care Program Act.”

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State
to protect and promote the right to health of the people and adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available
to all the people. The State also recognizes the interrelationship of education
and health. The health of school children highly influences their academic
absorption and performance. Toward this end, the State shall institutionalize
a health program that will improve the health of the school children to enable
them to develop their full potential towards becoming the country’s future
leaders and to address the high incidence of drop outs and poor school
performances due to health problems.

SEC. 3. Essential Health Care Program. - The Department of

Education, in coordination with the Department of Health, shall implement


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an Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) in all public schools to improve the
health of the children. Under this program, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste with
fluoride and deworming medicines shall be provided for the conduct of daily
handwashing, daily tooth brushing and bi-annual deworming of school
children from age six to twelve.

SEC.4. Role of the School Division Superintendent. - The
school division superintendent who supervises a number of schools in their
respective jurisdiction shall:

a) Issue a memorandum for alll school principals under the division
to implement the EHCP;

b) Oversee the overall implementation of the EHCP and ensure
monitoring of the program in all schools under the division at least once a
year;

©) Ensure the distribution of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and
deworming medicines according to the distribution system of the Department
of Education;

d) Include in the performance ranking system for teachers and
principals the compliance with school health programs like the EHCP; and

e) Promote the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA) by
using the EHCP as the focal point in strengthening its linkage with the local
government units (LGUs).

SEC.5. Role of the School Principal. - The school principal of a
public school shall:

a) Call for parent-teacher assemblies for the proper information of
parents and teachers about the EHCP;

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b) Ensure that handwashing and tooth brushing are included in the
daily activities of each class in the school;

c) Instruct all teachers in the school to ensure strict compliance
with the EHCP guidelines;

d) Link with LGUs and other stakeholders to create and strengthen
a supportive environment;

e) Ensure availability and proper distribution of soap, toothpaste,
toothbrushes and deworming medicines within the school;

f) Ensure monitoring and communication of the results of the
EHCP implementation to the teachers, parents and the community at least
once a year; and

g) Recognize the achievements of teachers and school health
personnel through performance ranking.

SEC. 6. Role of the School Health Personnel. - To assist the
teachers in the implementation of the EHCP, the school health personnel
shall:

a) Conduct a basic orientation on EHCP for teachers, school
administrators, parent-teacher association officials and members and
barangay health workers during an assembly called for the purpose;

b) Monitor and give feedback to parents, teachers and the principal
on the status of implementation of the program at least twice a year;

c) Provide teachers and parents with needed information to address
questions, concerns and misconceptions on deworming;

d) Provide technical support to teachers and oversee deworming
activities in their areas of responsibility; and

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) Seek the assistance of barangay health workers during the mass
deworming activity.

SEC. 7. Role of Teachers. - The teachers who are directly
supervising the school children shall:

a) Ensure the availability of water, the distribution of toothbrush,
toothpaste, soap and deworming tablet for the school children;

b) Supervise the school children during the daily toothbrushing and
hand washing especially during critical moments, which are, after using the
toilet, before eating and after eating;

c) Supervise the administration of the deworming medicine;

d) Organize the regular cleaning of handwashing facilities;

e) Document the activities in a record book and forward the detailed
records to the school health personnel for reference and statistical purposes;
and

f) Facilitate participatory lectures with regard to lessons and
observations learned during the health interventions.

SEC. 8. Role of Parents. — Recognizing the natural role of parents
in rearing their children, the parents shall continue the EHCP activities at
home and shall:

a) Participate in the annual monitoring of the EHCP;

b) Participate in parent-teacher assemblies to convey issues or
concerns to the school health personnel; and

c)  Signify consent for the deworming of their children under the

EHCP.


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SEC.9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department
of Education shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing
and monitoring body of the EHCP.

‘The Secretary of Education shall, in coordination with the Secretary of
Health, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The initial amount of Six hundred
million pesos (P600,000,000.00) necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations for the
Department of Education and the Department of Health. Thereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of the EHCP
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,