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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2806

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
I"District, locos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution states that "The State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them
(Section 15, Article II).

It further provides that "The State shall 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 at affordable cost. There shall be
priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers" (Sec. 11,
Art. XID),

Finally, it mandates that "The State shall establish and maintain an effective
food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate health manpower
development and research, responsive to the country’s health needs and problems"
(Sec. 12, Art. XIID.

Under the Local Government Code of 1991, among the basic services and
facilities which barangays are mandated to provide are "Health and social welfare
services which include maintenance of Barangay health center and day-care center"
(Sec. 17, R.A. No. 7160). In the list, however, of elective and appointive officials of
barangays, conspicuously absent are barangay nutrition workers. ¢

This bill, therefore, provides for the creation of a mandatory position of
Barangay Nutrition Worker in every barangay in recognition of the manifold nutrition
problems (indicative of malnutrition and under-nutrition are phenomena such as
stunting, obesity, etc.) in our communities, especially as they affect preschool and
school children, pregnant women and lactating mothers and other vulnerable groups
in our barangays.

This measure repeals and supersedes Presidential Dectee No. 1569, entitled
"Strengthening The Barangay Nutrition Program By Providing For A Barangay
Nutrition Scholar In Every Barangay, Providing Funds Therefor, And For Other
Purposes", which was promulgated for a similar purpose.

LEEPRESSY
AN

‘


In view of the foregoing considerations, the early approval of this bill is

earnestly requested.

FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 2806

Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1* District, locos Norte

AN ACT
CREATING THE POSITION OF BARANGAY NUTRITION WORKER IN
EVERY BARANGAY, PROVIDING INCENTIVES THERETO, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 and referred to as the
"Barangay Nutrition Worker Act."

SEC. 2. Barangay Nutrition Program, To further strengthen the Barangay
Nutrition Program, there shall be created under the administration and supervision of
the National Nutrition Council, in coordination with the city or municipality and the
barangay, one (1) mandatory position of Barangay Nutrition Worker in every
barangay with a monthly allowance of not less than Five thousand pesos (Php
5,000.00).

SEC. 3. Barangay Nutrition Worker. The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be
appointed by the Mayor, with the concurrence of the majority of all Sangguniang
Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod Members, and the Sangguniang Barangay
concerned. The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be responsible for delivering
nutrition services and other related activities such as community health, backyard
food production, environmental sanitation, culture, supplemental feeding and
responsible parenthood to the barangay.

SEC. 4. Services. The Barangay Nutrition Worker, while undergoing training
under the barangay nutrition program, shall serve the barangay on a voluntary basis
for at least six (6) months. Thereafter, the National Nutrition Council shall assess his
or her performance and make the necessary recommendation for his or her
appointment.

SEC. 5. Qualifie
following qualifications:

ions. The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall possess the

(a) Bona fide resident of the barangay for at least one (1) year, with ability to
speak the major dialect;


(b) With leadership potentials and the initiative and willingness to serve the
barangay for at least one (1) year;

(©) Willingness to learn and to teach what he or she has leaned to the barangay
residents;

(d) Atleast a secondary school graduate;

(e) Physical and mental fitness; and

(£) At least eighteen (18) years old but not more than sixty (60) years old.

SEC. 6. Recruitment. The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be recruited from
within the barangay and shall be tested on the basis of mental ability and work
aptitude.

SEC. 7. Training. Before actual barangay service, the Barangay Nutrition
Worker shall undergo appropriate and sufficient training on selected topics, such as
nutrition, health, food production and environmental sanitation, based on defined task
expectations to be conducted by a provincial training team in coordination with the
municipal and barangay nutrition committee. This training shall be supplemented by a
practicum to be conducted in the barangay where the worker is assigned, and such
activity shall be in coordination with the local training team.

SEC. 8. Benefits. The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be entitled to a training
stipend, meal and travel allowance of at least Three hundred pesos (P300) per day.
During the period of volunteer service prior to his or her appointment, the worker
shall be entitled to allowance of Five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) a month.

The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be granted a civil service eligibility
equivalent to second grade after the completion of at least two (2) years of continuous
and satisfactory service in the barangay.

SEC. 9. Incentives. To further enhance the nutrition program, the National
Nutrition Council, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education, shall
formulate a scholarship program where incumbent and deserving barangay nutrition
workers shall be given the opportunity to avail of a scholarship grant in any state
college or university and pursue a course relevant to his or her present position.

SEC. 10. Nutrition Committees. The organization of local nutrition committees
and the implementation of their respective nutrition programs shall be the
responsibility of the Provincial/City Nutrition Committee headed by the
Governor/City Mayor as Chairman and a Municipal Nutrition Committee headed by
the Mayor as Chairman.

SEC. 11. Local Training Team. The local training team of the municipality or
city shall be composed of two (2) members chosen from among the members of the
Municipal or City Nutrition Committee. This team shall follow up the activities of the
trained Barangay Nutrition Worker.

SEC. 12. Role of the Mayor. The Municipal or City Mayor shall initiate
activities to implement the nutrition program within the municipality or city, organize
the local training teams and may recommend the appropriation by the


municipality/city of a local counterpart in the form of additional allowance for the
barangay nutrition worker.

SEC. 13. Barangay Nutrition Workers Staff Secretariat. There shall be a staff
secretariat in every province/city which shall monitor the program, identify its
problems and recommend possible solutions thereto.

SEC. 14, National Nutrition Council. The National Nutrition Council shall
formulate rules and regulations, plans and programs within the limits set forth in this
Act, allocate the funds to the various provinces and/or agencies, for disbursement in
accordance with the financial plan of the Barangay Nutrition Program.

SEC. 15. Donations. For purposes of this Program, the National Nutrition
Council and the local governments, are authorized to receive grants, donations, gifts
or bequests from various government agencies and government corporations which
shall be tax exempt.

SEC. 16. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation
of this Act is hereby appropriated from any available funds in the National Treasury
or from the Special Activities Fund and authorized to be released. Thereafter, such
sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Local governments are likewise authorized to appropriate such amount necessary
for the effective implementation of this Act; Provided, That the city or municipality
shall appropriate as part of its annual budget for personal services the necessary
amount of Five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) per month per Barangay Nutrition
Worker; and Provided further, That third to fifth class municipalities shall appropriate
Two thousand pesos (Php 2,000.00) per month per Barangay Nutrition Worker. The
difference in the Five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) monthly allowance per
Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be included in the General Appropriations Act
(GAA) for the year following the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause. If any provisions or part of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts thereof not affected thereby
shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. The provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1569 and
all other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,