TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SENATE
S. No. 1312
Senate
of ti)f S)rtrct.irj>
25 SEP-1 Pin?
RFCEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL NUTRITION PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11037, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT", 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Undernutrition has remained a persistent and prevalent challenge in the 
Philippines, and it significantly impacts children's ability to focus, participate, and excel 
in school. In fact, the Second Congressional Commission on Education places nutrition 
as its first priority area, as it is the foundation of quality education.
This measure is a direct response to this concern and moves to strengthen and 
amend Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise known as the Masustansyang Pagkain Para 
sa Batang PiHpino Act, by:
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Expanding the coverage of supplemental feeding. Lowering the age 
coverage of the DSWD's supplemental feeding program from children aged 3- 
5 to children aged 2-5, to address nutritional needs earlier in life.
• 
Closing the gap for early learners. Shifting from targeted feeding for 
undernourished Kindergarten to Grade 6 learners to universal feeding for 
Kindergarten to Grade 3, when nutritional intervention has the greatest lifelong 
benefits, and targeted feeding for Grades 4 to 6.
• 
Extending feeding duration. Increasing from 120 to 160 feeding days to 
align with the school year, while establishing a central kitchen in every Schools 
Division Office and enabling direct purchase from small-scale farmers and 
fisherfolk.
• 
Allowing milk substitutes. Permitting the use of sterilized or powdered milk 
in the supplementary milk program to address cost and logistical challenges 
while maintaining nutritional value.


• Covering other vulnerable groups. Subject to fund availability, extending 
feeding to nutritionally-at-risk adolescent pregnant learners, stunted learners, 
children with disabilities. Indigenous learners, learners in remedial 
interventions, and other undernourished public high school learners.
By expanding the coverage of the National Nutrition Program, this bill ensures 
there is no gap in implementation between Republic Act No. 11148, the ''Kalusugan 
at Nutrisyon ng Mag-NanayAct," which addresses stunting within the first 1,000 days 
of life, and the National Nutrition Program under RA 11037, which sustains those gains 
as children enter and progress through school. It seeks to close the nutrition gap 
among our children, ensuring they have the best start in life and are equally prepared 
to attend and succeed in school.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1312
itf of tlip fernrf.irp
25 SEP-1 PI :17
RECEIVED B\
Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino
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AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL NUTRITION PROGRAM, AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11037, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT", 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 11037 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
shall be understood to mean as follows, to wit:
(A) ADOLESCENT REFERS TO YOUNG PEOPLE 
FROM THE AGE OF TEN (10) TO NINETEEN (19) 
YEARS, WHO ARE IN TRANSITION FROM 
CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD."
[(a)] (B) Cycle Menu refers to standardized menus prepared 
by the national government agencies (NGAs), in coordination 
with the National Nutrition Council (NNC), [and the] Food and 
Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUS) FOR DAY CARE 
CENTERS, which shall be contextualized and drawn up, 
among others, according to age range, location and/or type 
of school, and local cultural and/or religions eating


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preferences: Provided, That such menus shall have as many 
varieties and selections as may necessary taking into account 
its availability in the place or locality where the day care center 
or school is located;
[(b)] (C) EARLY CHILDHOOD REFERS TO THE PERIOD 
FROM BIRTH TO THE AGE OF EIGHT (8), 
REPRESENTING A CONNECTED AND PROGRESSIVE 
SEQUENCE OF DEVELOPMENT;
[(c)] (D) Fortified Meal refers to a HOT meal with deliberately 
increased content of essential micronutrients so as to improve 
the nutritional quality of the food and provide the level of 
calories and protein as prescribed by the NNC which shall 
consist of at least one-third (1/3) of the daily requirement 
based on the Philippine Dietary Reference Intake (PDRI) OR 
NUTRITIOUS FOOD PRODUCTS (NFP) DEVELOPED BY 
FNRI;
[(d)] (E) X X x;
[(e)] (F) MILK-BASED SUBSTITUTE REFERS TO A 
PRODUCT THAT HAS UNDERGONE PROCESSING TO 
EXTEND SHELF LIFE, WHILE RETAINING THE 
ESSENTIAL NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF MILK. 
THESE INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, STERILIZED MILK 
AND POWDERED MILK.
[(b)] (G) X X x;
[(g)] (H) UndernourishedChiidrefers to a child who has been 
supplied with less than the minimum amount of [foods] 
FOOD essential for sound health and growth. For purposes of 
this Act, it shall include children who are suffering from 
chronic hunger and malnutrition as well as those who are


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considered as wasted, severely wasted, or stunted under the 
World Health Organization Child Growth;
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Sec. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11037 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
"Sec. 4. National [Feeding] NUTRITION Program. - The National 
[Feeding] NUTRITION Program, hereinafter referred to as the 
Program, is hereby established to address undernutrition among 
Filipino children.
The program shall have the following components and coverage:
(a) Supplemental Feeding Program for [Boy Care Children] 
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE. - The DSWD, in 
coordination with the LGUs concerned, shall implement a 
supplemental feeding program for undernourished 
children with ages [three (3)] TWO (2) to five (5) years. 
The Program shall be administered in day care centers or 
in any other facility which can be used for such purpose: 
Provided, That the Program shall include the provision of 
at least one (1) fortified HOT meal for a period of one 
hundred [twenty (120)] SIXTY (160) days in a year: 
Provided, further, That in the preparation of fortified HOT 
meals, the DSWD shall work in collaboration with 
recognized parents' organization.
THE DSWD, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE 
NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL (NNC) AND THE 
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT 
(ECCD) COUNCIL, SHALL STRENGTHEN THE CHILD 
DEVELOPMENT AND THE HEALTH AND NUTRITION 
COMPONENTS OF THE PARENT EFFECTIVENESS


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SERVICE PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY FOR THE 
FAMILIES OF THE TARGET BENEFICIARIES.
THE DSWD SHALL COLLABORATE CLOSELY 
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) AND 
THE LG US IN PROVIDING HEALTH AND NUTRITION 
SERVICES TO UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN 
BELOW TWO (2) YEARS OF AGE. THE ECCD 
COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE IN ENSURING DEVELOPMENTALLY 
APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS ARE INTEGRATED 
WITH NUTRITION SERVICES.
(b) School-Based Feeding Program. - The DepEd shall 
implement a [s]School-[b]Based [f]Feeding [p]Program 
WHICH SHALL COVER: [for—undernourished public 
school children from kindergarten to grade six (6):] (1)
UNIVERSAL FEEDING FOR ALL LEARNERS FROM 
KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 3, REGARDLESS OF 
NUTRITIONAL STATUS; AND (2) TARGETED 
FEEDING FOR ALL UNDERNOURISHED LEARNERS 
FROM GRADES 4 TO 6: Provided, That the Program shall 
include the provision of least one (1) fortified HOT meal 
to [all undernourished] THE COVERED public elementary 
school children for a period of not less than one hundred 
[twenty (120)] SIXTY (160) days in a year[;i: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT SUBJECT TO 
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, SECONDARY 
BENEFICIARIES WHICH INCLUDE CURRENTLY 
ENROLLED 
NUTRITIONALLY-AT-RISK
ADOLESCENT PREGNANT MOTHERS IN PUBLIC 
HIGH SCHOOLS, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, 
OTHER MARGINALIZED OR VULNERABLE GROUPS


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INCLUDING INDIGENOUS LEARNERS AS DEFINED 
UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11510, LEARNERS 
PARTICIPATING IN REMEDIAL, INTERVENTION 
AND SUPPLEMENTARY LEARNING PROGRAMS, 
AND UNDERNOURISHED STUDENTS IN 
SECONDARY EDUCATION ENROLLED IN PUBLIC 
SCHOOLS, AMONG OTHERS, MAY BE COVERED 
UNDER THE SCHOOL-BASED FEEDING PROGRAM.
(c) 
[Milk - Fooding Program] SUPPLEMENTARY MILK 
PROGRAM. — [The NGAs sholl coordinoto with][t]The 
Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Dairy 
Authority, the Philippine Carabao Center and the 
Cooperative Development Authority, IN 
COORDINATION WITH THE DEPED AND DSWD, 
SHALL IMPLEMENT A SUPPLEMENTARY MILK 
PROGRAM WHICH WILL INCORPORATE, [for the 
incorporation of] fresh milk, [afd] fresh milk-based food 
products, OR MILK-BASED SUBSTITUTES in the 
[fortified meals and] cycle menu in accordance with 
Republic Act No. 8172, otherwise known as the "Philippine 
Food Fortification Act of 2000," [utilizing- os for as 
practicable, locally produced milk-in order to enhance its
nutritional content and, at the same time, help boost
livelihood opportunities for locol dairy farmers and the locol
doiry industry;} IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE 
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 
SUPPLEMENTARY MILK PROGRAM, THE DA SHALL 
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROCUREMENT, 
PAYMENT, AND DELIVERY OF THE MILK SUPPLY;
(d) 
Micronutrient [Supplements] SUPPLEMENTATION 
PROGRAM. - [The NGAs, in coordination with] IN


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COORDINATION WITH THE DSWD AND DEPED, the 
D0H[7] shall provide AGE-APPROPRIATE AND NEEDS- 
BASED micronutrient supplements to the Program 
beneficiaries, AND IMPLEMENT [including] the use of 
iodized salt in accordance with Republic Act No. 8172, 
otherwise known as the "Salt lodization or ASIN" law; 
PROVIDED, THAT SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF 
FUNDS, THE DEPED SHALL ADMINISTER WEEKLY 
IRON AND FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION TO 
FEMALE ADOLESCENTS/ INCLUDING ELIGIBLE 
FEMALE LEARNERS IN THE ALTERNATIVE 
LEARNING SYSTEM, PRIORITIZING AREAS WITH 
HIGH PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AMONG INFANTS 
AND YOUNG CHILDREN: PROVIDED, FURTHER, 
THAT THE NNC AND DOST-FNRI SHALL 
COORDINATE CLOSELY WITH THE DEPED IN 
IDENTIFYING AREAS WITH HIGH PREVALENCE OF 
ANEMIA FOR EFFECTIVE PROGRAM 
IMPLEMENTATION.
(e) xxx;
xxx;
(g) 
xxx; [and]
(h) 
xxx; and
(i) 
CENTRAL KITCHEN IN EVERY SCHOOLS DIVISION 
OFFICE. - THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED A 
CENTRAL KITCHEN IN EVERY SCHOOLS DIVISION 
OFFICE, WHICH SHALL BE OPERATED, 
MAINTAINED, AND SUPERVISED BY THE DEPED, 
WHICH SHALL PREPARE AND FACILITATE


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DISTRIBUTION OF FORTIFIED MEALS TO 
BENEFICIARIES WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE 
DIVISIONS."
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Sec. 3. A new Section 5 is hereby inserted and subsequent Sections shall be
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renumbered accordingly. The new Section 5 shall read as follows:
"SEC. 5. DIRECT PURCHASE FROM FARMERS AND 
FISHERFOLK. - IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL 
NUTRITION PROGRAM AS DEFINED UNDER SECTION 4 OF 
THIS ACT, DEPED, DSWD AND DA, AS THE CASE MAY BE, MAY 
DIRECTLY PROCURE OR PURCHASE LOCALLY-PRODUCED 
DAIRY, AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERY PRODUCTS DIRECTLY 
FROM ACCREDITED FARMERS, FISHERFOLK, AND THEIR 
COOPERATIVES OR ASSOCIATIONS, AS DEFINED UNDER 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11321, OR THE "SAGIP SAKA ACT", 
SUBJECT TO GUIDELINES ISSUED BY RELEVANT NATIONAL 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES."
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Sec. 4. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 11037 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
"Sec. 8. Private Sector Participation. - The NGAs shall encourage the 
participation of the private sector in the Program which shall include, 
among others, PTAs, private corporations, peoples and 
nongovernment organizations and such other groups or 
organizations, both foreign and local, that may want to be partner in 
whole or in part with the implementation of the Program: 
PROVIDED, THAT, ALL PARTNERSHIPS SHALL ADHERE TO 
EXISTING GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE 
PARTNERSHIPS, AND OTHER APPLICABLE RULES AND 
REGULATIONS."


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Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred eighty (180)
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days from the effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, DepEd and DA shall promulgate the
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implementing rules and regulations necessary to ensure the efficient and effective
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implementation of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the relevant agencies to
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promulgate the said IRR shall not prevent or delay the effectivity and implementation
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of this Act.
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Sec. 6. Transitory Provision. - Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this
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Act the DSWD, DEPED, and the DA shall each update their respective and existing
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policies, rules, and regulations in light of and relevant to this Act.
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Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
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remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
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other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,