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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2465

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon, Nelson L. Dayanghirang

Explanatory Note

It is indisputable that the country's economic productivity is considerably affected
by the health status of its labor force. In the same vein, the learning capacities of students
including their acquisition of knowledge and skills that are essential in the production of
goods and services are likewise greatly influenced by the health condition of the learners.

Thus, the Constitution under Section 15 of Article Il mandates the State to"... to protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them." The injunction aims to develop an integrated, responsive and efficacious health care
system that can enhance national development.

Lamentably, government has never given health care the priority it deserves. Its
P9.9-B health budget for FY 2004 is a minuscule 1.62% of the P609-B total national
budget. Neither do Filipino families prioritize health. In the highlights of the 1997 Family
Income and Expenditures Survey (FIES) released by the National Statistics Office
(NSO), health expenditure is not at all specified. It is subsumed under the expenditures on
"others". In the 1988 FIES health’s share in the total family expenditures was only 2%, even
smaller than the 3% share of tobacco and alcoholic beverages.

It is urgent that health consciousness be instilled among Filipinos, Needless to stress,
the school plays a vital role in making the people aware of the importance of health care.

Toward this end, government commits to "... fully integrate our health care system with
the school system, with preventive health care, personal hygiene, and nutrition education being
pursued as active programs in basic education.”

The School Health and Nutrition Program (SHNP) of the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports (DECS), which is designed to promote, protect and maintain the health
and nutritional wellbeing of the various sectors of elementary and secondary educational
institutions, needs to be modernized and upgraded to maximize its contribution to quality
basic education.

‘This proposed legislation that seeks to modernize the SHNP prioritizes the following


concerns

a. Recruitment of school health and nutrition personnel to attain the ratio of one personnel
to 2,000 pupils/teachers over a five-year period;

b. Upgrading of the salary of health and nutrition personnel to be at par with counterparts
in other Departments and full implementation of the benefits of the Magna Carta

for Public Health Workers,

Provision of equipment, medical and dental supplies and medicines,

Health examination of all Grade | entrants and provision of supplementary feeding

(breakfast and/or milk) to the Grade 1 pupils and nutritionally deprived school children,

20

Accordingly, to actualize these priority concerns toward the effective promotion of the
health and nutritional well-being of the school population, approval of this measure is
earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, __ 2465

Introduced by Hon, NELSON L. DAYANGHIRANG

ANACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH
AND NUTRITION PROGRAM (SHNP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be _it enacted by the Senate and the Hotise_of Representativ

sof the Philippines in Congress
assembled

SECTION t
Modernization Act.’

itle. — This Act shall be known as th

school Health and Nutrition

Sec. 2, Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote,
maintain and protect the health and nutritional well-being of the school population through
the delivery of preventive health care to the students, teachers and school administrators
in the elementary and high school levels and to the non-teaching personnel. Toward this end,
the School Health and Nutrition Program of the Department of Education, Culture and
Sports shall be modernized and upgraded to ensure the attainment of a health status that can
enhance the active learning capacities of the children and for the teachers and other
personnel to function more effectively, thus, enabling the achievement of the goals of quality
basic education

It is likewise declared the policy of the State to pursue the modernization program under
this Act through: a.) the development of an efficient and effective health care delivery
system in the schools; b.) the development, evaluation and application of appropriate methods
and procedures in preventive health care; c.) the development of reforms in the management of
human and material resources, and d,) the acquisition and upgrading of appropriate equipment
and technology


Sec. 3. Defi
mean:

a. Department — means the Department of Education, Culture and Sports,

b. School Health and Nutrition Program — is a comprehensive education and
service package, delivered to the schools, eventually to the homes and
communities, in order to improve the health and nutritional status of the total
school population, with the elementary grades children as its priority group.

Public Health — the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life,
and promoting physical and mental health and efficiency through organized
community efforts.

d. Preventive Health Care — the systematic organization of all the personal
services necessary to prevent disease and attain the highest level of health.

e. Health and Nutrition Center ~ refers to the agency that takes charge of the
‘overall management of the integrated School Health and Nutrition Program
(SHNP).

f. Basic Education — consists of six years elementary and four years
secondary education. Basic education is that which brings the child to a point
where he can be an autonomous learner, one who is self-reliant and creative.

g. Health Education — refers to the teaching and counseling on healthy living,
including hygiene, nutrition, sex education, alcohol and drug abuse, smoking
and other threats to health.

h. Quality Education — refers to the appropriateness, relevance and excellence of
the education given to the individual in meeting his/her needs and aspirations
and those of society.

jon of Terms. The following terms shall be understood in this Act to

Sec. 4. Objectives of the SHNP. The SHNP modernization be implemented in
accordance with the following objectives

a. To provide a comprehensive preventive health care to school children and
teachers in the elementary and secondary levels of education and to the non-
' teaching personnel of the Department;
b. To inculcate health and nutrition values and behavior and-encourage healthy
lifestyles among the school populace;
¢. To encourage parents to provide their children with proper health care and to
perform effective parenting to prevent drug abuse;
d. To develop effective linkages between the school and community for better
school health;
To strengthen the Health and Nutrition Center in the management of the
Program, and
To establish and maintain adequate health and sanitation facilities like school
clinics, canteens, water supply, sanitary toilets and garbage disposal in the
schools.


Sec. 5. Components of the SHNP Modernization. The modernization program
shall consist of the following components:

a. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT — To carry out effectively their
functions, it is necessary to restructure, expand and upgrade the staff and
personnel of the Regional Health and Nutrition Units and the Division Health
and Nutrition Sections including the creation of nurse supervisor positions to
oversee nursing care of the school children: Provided, That in the upgrading of
plantilla positions, the compensation and benefits shall be at par with those
of health and nutrition personnel in other government agencies in
accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.

b. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT — This component pertains to
programs and educational activities of health and nutrition personnel to enhance
their skills and competencies through workshops, conferences and in-service
trainings relative to the delivery of health care, and on mobilization as well as
administrative responsibilities. A continuing health resource development
program shall be implemented.

¢. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT — This component consists of the
construction of physical plants and facilities such as sanitary toilets, facilities
for washing hands, water system, school clinics and feeding centers/canteens
in the public elementary schools to ensure health and nutritional needs in public
elementary schools including suitable sites for the Alay-Tanim/Tree Planting
program

d. INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS ORGANIZATION — This component
consists of the acquisition and development of an extensive computer
network for health and nutrition care; the upgrading of methods and
procedures in preventive health care; monitoring and evaluation; and research in
support of the total program.

‘The Department Secretary in coordination with the Secretary of Health
shall formulate guidelines to implement this section in accordance with the
objectives of the modernization program enumerated in the preceding section,

Sec. 6. Priority Programs for SHNP Modernization. — For a more
effective implementation of the objectives of the SHNP and consistent with the mandate of
the Constitution relative to health care; the following program/activities shall be given priority
consideration:

a, Recruitment of school health and nutrition personnel to attain the ratio of one
personnel to 2,000 pupils/teachers over a five year period,
b. Upgrading of the salary of health and nutrition personnel to be at par with
+ counterparts in other Departments and full implementation of the benefits of the
Magna Carta for Public Health Workers,


¢. Provision of equipment, medical and dental supplies and medicines;
4d. Health examination of all Grade | entrants and provision of supplementary feeding
(breakfast and/or milk) to Grade 1 pupils and nutritionally deprived school children;

Sec. 7. Period of Implementation. The Modernization Program under this Act shall be
implemented over a period of five (5) years from 2009 to 20014.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. To effectively carry out the objectives of this Act, the initial
amount of TWO HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P200,000,000.00) is hereby
authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, and from the funds of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
Thereafter, such funds as are necessary shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations
Act.
Sec. 9. juse. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional

or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

See. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department, in consultation with the
Department of Health, Shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations within 60 days
upon effectivity of this Act

12. Effeetivity Clause. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two
(2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,