THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE RFiPTJBLIC) 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.B. NO. 
Introduced by Senator LUISA “LOP’ P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: 
“The State shall protect and promote the right to health of 
the people and instill health consciousness among them.” 
The public is increasingly exhibiting an increasing interest in reliabl- information 
concerning nutrition and the relationship of nutrition to human health, and are making 
personal nutrition choices based on such information. Unfortunately7 they often receive 
conflicting and confusing messages about nutrition and the relationship of nutrition to 
health. 
The country’s information base concerning nutrition and health is fragmentary, 
often difficult to identi@, and includes significant gaps in knowledge concerning the 
relationship between nutrition and the occurrence of certain diseases and adverse health 
conditions. 
Hence, this bill seeks to establish within the Department of Health a permanent 
council on nutrition and health, whose main task will be to identify and disseminate 
sound information on the relationship between nutrition and health and the gaps in 
knowledge that require additional research and attention. 
Foregoing premises considered immediate approval of this proposed measure is 
highly recommended. 
LUISA ~‘LOI” P.~JERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


Introduced bv Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH A PERMANENT 
COUNCIL ON NUTRITION AND HEALTH 
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 “Nutrition and Health 
Act.” 
SEC. 2. Purpose. - The purpose of this Act is to establish within the Department 
of Health a Council on Nutrition and Health that will assemble the existing information 
on the relationship between nutrition and human health, monitor the progress of ongoing 
research, identie the aspects of the relationship between nutrition and health that require 
additional research, maintain the base of information in an understandable and retrievable 
fashion, and serve as a clearinghouse for idormation on the relationship between 
nutrition and human health. 
SEC. 3. Definitions. - As used in this Act- 
(1) “Council” means the Council on Nutrition and Health, as established in 
section 4(a). 
(2) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
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SEC. 4. Establishment and Stafing of the Council on Nutrition.- 
(a) Establishment. - The Council on Nutrition and Health is hereby established 
within the Department of Health.. 
(b) Membership. - 
(1) Appointment. - The Council shall consist of nine (9) voting members, all 
of whom shall be appointed by the President. 
(2) EZigibiZity for Membership. - The members of the Council shall be chosen 
from among individuals who are knowledgeable in the fields of health, 
human nutrition, food production and distribution, and agriculture. Such 
members shall be selected solely on the basis of an established record of 
distinguished service in the areas of expertise of such individuals. 
(3) Ex-Offio Members. - The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
be ex officio members of the Council. 
(c) Tern of Oflce. - 
(1) In General. - Each' member of the Council shall be appointed for a term of 
three (3) years, except that members appointed to the initial Council shall 
serve, proportionately, for terms of 1, 2, and 3 years, as determined by the 
Secretary at the time of appointment. 
(2) Vacancy.- A member of the Council who is appointed to fill a vacancy in 
the Council occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the 
predecessor of such member was appointed, shall be appointed pursuant to 
subsection (b)( 1) only for the remainder of the term of his predecessor. 
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(3) Expiration of 
Term. - A member of the Council may serve after the 
expiration of the term of office of such member until the successor for 
such member has taken his oath and assumed office. 
(4) Eligibility For Successive Terns. - A member of the Council shall be 
eligible to serve successive terms of office. 
(d) Leadership of Council --- 
(1) Selection. - A Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson of the Council shall be 
selected by the President from among the members of the Council. 
(2) Term of Oflce. - The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Council, as 
referred to in paragraph (l), shall serve for term of three (3) years. 
(e) Meetings of Council. - 
(1) Frequency of Meetings. - The Chairperson of the Council, as referred to in 
subsection (d), shall convene a meeting of the Council not less than once 
during each three (3)-month period. 
(2) Quorum. - At a properly convened meeting of the Council, the presence of 
five (5) Council members shall constitute a quorum. 
(f) Compensation. - A member of the Council shall be paid or reimbursed for 
travel to and fi-om the place of service of such member and for other expenses 
associated with the responsibilities as a member of the Council. 
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(g) StafJ:- The staff of the Council shall be permanent employees of the 
Department of Health of such rank, grade, and fhction as considered to be 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
SEC. 5. Responsibilities of the council. 
(A) In General. - The Council shall- 
(1) assemble the existing information on the relationship between nutrition 
and health; 
(2) identie and collect the ongoing research within the various national and 
local governmental agencies, the private sector in the country, and in 
foreign countries; 
(3) identie the aspects of the relationship between nutrition and health that 
require additional research; 
(4) monitor ongoing research into the role of nutrition in health, including -- 
(a) methods by which the nutritional value of domestically produced food 
products may be improved; 
(b) the relationship between the consumption of specific foods and 
nutrients and the incidence and treatment of specific diseases and 
conditions; and 
(c) the optimal level of foods and nutrients that are appropriate under 
various health conditions to maximize specific human capabilities; 
(5) monitor the progress of nutrition education efforts among the health 
profession, other segments of the society, and the general public; and 
(6) maintain an understandable and retrievable database of existing scientific 
information on the relationship of nutrition and health and serve as a 
clearinghouse for such information. 
(l3) Rules and Regulations. - The Council is authorized to adopt such rules and 
regulations as maybe necessary to carry out this Act. 
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SEC. 6. Responsibility of other agencies to cooperate with the council. . Each 
agency and private entity that is performing nutrition research that is completely or 
partially funded by appropriated funds shall cooperate with the Council by informing the 
Council of the research of such agency or entity, and .by filing a copy of the final report 
of the product of such research with the Council. 
SEC. 7. Treatment Of Infomzatsbrz On File. - Submission of information or data 
on the relationship between nutrition and health to the Council shall not affect statutory 
law trademark status, copyright, or patent rights. 
SEC. 8. Reports. - 
(a) In General. - Not later than December 31 of each year, the Council shall 
submit a report to the Secretary on the progress of its work and any areas of 
suggested research into the relationship between nutrition and health. 
(b) Distribuiion. - Following the receipt by the Secretary of the annual report of 
the Council under subsection (a), the Secretary shall immediately distribute 
such report, along with recommendations of the Secretary regarding such 
report, to the President, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the appropriate 
committees of the Congress as well as to such other agencies and departments 
as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
SEC. 9. Authorizaiion Of Appropriations - The appropriation f?om the National 
Treasury of such sums that may be necessary to carry out this Act is hereby authorized. 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - E any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
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SEC. 1 1. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect meen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
G Wprecydisk2/nutritionlA 
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