FIFTEENTH CONGRESS: = —

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 5)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No,_ 53.2
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 2651 by the undersigned
Rufus B, Rodriguez during the Fourteenth Congress. It was approved by the
‘Committee on Health as substitute House Bill No. 4143 under Committee Report No.
535, dated May 15, 2008. It was approved on 2™ reading on May 27, 2008 and 3
reading on June 11, 2008. It was transmitted to the Senate on June 17, 2008 where it
‘was not acted upon.

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.”

‘Thousands of infants each year are born with serious birth defects of the brain
and spine, called neural tube defects. The most common of these are spin bifida, the
incomplete closure of the spinal column and anencephaly, a fatal condition in which
an infant is born with a severely under-developed brain and skull.

Studies in the United States show that as many as 70 percent of neural tube
birth defects could be prevented if all women of childbearing age begin in consuming
400 micrograms of folic acid daily, before pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin found
naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, and juices and in
certain multivitamins capsules.

Unfortunately, a majority of women are neither aware of this prevention
‘opportunity, nor consuming the recommended daily amount.

Hence, this bill seeks to provide a national folic acid education campaign in
order to urge women to take the simple step to prevent neural tube defects.

Foregoing premises considered, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly
solicited.

Ri B. Rf iGUEZ

@

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS. —

E on ———aee)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House BillNo___ 09.2

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL FOLIC ACID EDUCATION PROGRAM TO
PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS

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 “Folic Acid
Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act’.

‘SEC. 2. Promotion of the Beneficial Effects of Folic Acid in the Prevention of
Birth Defects. - The Department of Health shall carry out a program, directly
or through special arrangements with other government agencies and other
Promotional entities engaged in public information activities, to provide
education and training for health professionals and the general public for
purposes of explaining the effects of folic acid in preventing birth defects and
to encourage women of reproductive capacity to consume the appropriate
amount of folic acid as a dietary supplement on a daily basis.

Pursuant thereto, the Secretary of Health may consult with the
appropriate public or private entities, including national nonprofit and non-
government organizations, health professionals and health insurance and
health plan providers, to ensure the success of such education and training
program. In addition, the Secretary shall, directly or through partnership with
other sectors, provide technical assistance to public and nonprofit private
organizations to fulfil the mandate provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof.


SEC. 3. Continuing Research and Study of the Effects of Folic Acid. — The
Department of Health shall conduct continuing studies on the effects of folic
acid to increase the understanding of the same on the health of the citizenry,
especially its contribution to the prevention of birth defects, cleft ip and palate,
and heart defects. It shall likewise conduct research with respect to such
education and training, including identifying effective strategies for increasing
the rate of consumption of folic acid by women of reproductive capacity. In
addition, it shall provide for appropriate epidemiological activities regarding
folic acid, birth defects and neural tube defects.

SEC. 4. Evaluation of Program Implementation. - The Secretary of Health
shall cause the review of the program to evaluate the extent to which the
activities carried out, pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 hereof, have been effective
in fulfilling the goals of the program, including their effect on different sectors
of the population. Methods of evaluation to be undertaken pursuant thereto
may include surveys of knowledge and attitudes on the consumption of folic
acid and on blood folate levels, and the complete and timely monitoring of
infants who are born with neural tube defects.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions
of this Act shall be taken from the funds of the Department of Health of the
current year and every year thereafter.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.


SEC. 8. ~-Effectivity | Clause. — This Act shall_take. effect fifteen_(15)-days-after

its publication inthe Official Gazeta. = tCtCt=~S

Approved,