EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rodriquez _

Hess Introduced by Representative Rufus B
2159

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15 of Article 2 of the Constitution provides that, “The State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

‘One of the major components of providing effective health services is the
dissemination of relevant and accurate information on nutrition. However, the relationship:
between nutrition and health is often overiooked ‘which results to less attention and
importance given to research and creation of database on nutrition, Moreover. muttitude
‘sources of information which are often not in congruence with one another cause confusion

among the public.

This measure seeks to create a permanent Council on Nutition and Health under the
Department of Health The said Council shal focus its efforts on consolidating and
monitoring research and information on nutriton that will be made readily available to the
public. This wil not only provide our people with the sound information on nutrition and its
Importance to our general health but will also encourage more endeavors towards research
and development on these fields.

immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought

RUsUP B. RO! JUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

~“Tntroduced by Representative Rufus B. Re
2759

House Bill No.

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 Council
Act’

SEC 2. Purpose — The purpose of this Acts 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, identify the
aspects of the relationship between utrition and health that require additional research,
maintain the base of information in an understandable and retrievable fashion, and serve as
a clearinghouse for information on the relationship between nutrition and human health

SEC 3. Definition. - As used in this Act-
+, “Council” means the Council on Nutrition and Health, as established in Section
4(a) of this Act
2. “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health.

SEC 4, Establishment and Staffing of the Council on Nutition
(a) Establishment — The Council on Nutriton and Health is hereby established within
the Department of Health
(b) Membership —

11). Appointment ~ The Council shall consist of nine (9) voting members, ail of
{yom shall be appointed by the President

(2) Blabiity for Membership ~ The members of Te Council shall be chosen
fan among individuals who are knowledgeable 10 the fields of health.
Toman nutrition, food production and distribution. ane’ agricuiture. Such
vembers shall be selected solely on the basis of an established record of
Gstnguished service in the areas of expertise of Suclt individuals,

(3) Ex-Officio Members ~ The Secretary and the ‘Secretary of Agriculture shall
be ex-officio members of the Council

{c) Term of Office —

TT) in General - Each member of the Council shal be appointed for a term of
ce va) years. except that members appointed to tne initial Council shall
weve. proportionately, for terms of one (1). two (2) and three (3) years. as
Seteemined by the Secretary at the time of appointment

(2) Vacancy - A member of the Council who 's ‘appointed to fill a vacancy in the
vecer occurring prior to the expiration of the {erm for which the
predecessor of such member was appointed, shal be appointed pursuant to
Cen eon (bv 1) only for the remainder of the term of his predecessor


(3). Expiration of Term — A member of the Council may 58 after the expiration
Er ee term of office of such member until the successor for such member
has taken his oath and assumed office
(4) Blighility for Successive Terms — 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
celected by the President from among the members of the Council
(2) Term of Office - The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Council, as
TSerred to in paragraph (1), shall serve for a term of three (3) Years:
(e) Meetings of the Council ~
EGS equency of Meetings ~ The Chairperson of the Council of referred to in
cede on (d), shall convene @ meeting of the Council not less than once
during each three-month period
(2) Quorum — At a properly convened meeting of the Couneii, the presence of
five (5) Council members shall constitute @ quorum
(f) Compensation — A member of the Council shall be paid or reimbursed for travel to
sad from the place of service of such member and for other expenses associated
with the responsiblities as a member of the Council
(q) Staff ~ The staff of the Council shall be permanent employee of the Department of
Health of such rank, grade, and function as considered to be appropriate by the
Secretary

SEC 5. Responsibilities of the Council. —
(A) in General — The Council shal! —

(1) assemble the existing information on the relationship Detween nutrition and
health,

(2) identify and collect the ongoing research within the varios national and local
governmental agencies, the private sector in the country, and in foreign
countries;

(3) identify the aspects of the relationship between nutrition and health that
require additional research

(4) monitor ongoing research into the role of nutrition 'n) health, including -

(a) methods by which the nutritional value of domestically-produced food
products may be improved

(b) ine 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
mPirmation on the relationship of nutrition and health and serve as @
clearinghouse for such information

(8) Rules and Regulations - The Council is authorized to adopt such rules and
regulations as maybe necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC 6. Responsibility of other Agencies to Cooperate with the Counc — 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
oprah 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 Information on File. — Submission of information or date on the
SNationship 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 Couneil shall submit a
report fo the Secretary on the progress of its work and any areas of suggested

ope prch into the relationship between nutrition and health
(b) Distribution - Following the receipt by the ‘Secretary of the annual report of the
Counell under subsection (a), the Secretary shal immediately distribute such
report, along with recommendations of the Secretary regarding such report, to
the president, the Secretary of Agriculture, and {he ‘appropriate committees of
the Congress as well as to such other agencies ‘and departments as the

Secretary considers appropriate,

SEC 9, Authorization of Appropriations. — The appropriation from the National Treasury of
cach sums that may be necessary to carry out this Act's hereby authorized

SEC 10. Separabilly Clause. — If any provision of part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the jaw or ‘the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting

SEC 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order.
iter of instruction, administrative order. rule or requiation ‘contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed modified or amended accordingly

SEC 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
mat least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved