14t" CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
7 
,j& .-.? - y-j 
L . . . . .  
.,', 
: 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
~~~~1~~~ 
1.71' :,;, 
S.B. No. 
789 
~~ 
~ 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution emphatically directs the State to promote and protect physical, 
moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of the youth. Likewise, it mandates the 
protection and promotion of the right to health of the people, and instill health 
consciousness among them. 
Great emphasis has always been given to the provision of facilities, teaching 
materials, new equipment and technology, and on the upgrading of teachers' 
competencies for the attainment of quality basic education. But it is inescapably true that 
the best teachers in the world using the hest equipment and materials available will fail 
unless the learner is ready to learn. Education is a function ofthe educatee. Ifthe learning 
child is handicapped in any way, so is his potential for learning and change. 
School health and nutrition has recently emerged as an enabling factor in 
education. It is realized that the state of the children's health and nutritional status 
determines their active learning capacities. A critical look at the school health and 
nutrition profile during CY 1995 revealed the following: considerably low nutrition 
status, ailments, eye and ear defects, tuberculosis, lack of. Health/nutrition facilities, low 
personnel/pupil ratio, old ofice equipment. Thus, this measure will provide for the 
framework and mechanism for the modernization of the School Health and Nutrition 
Program which has now become inadequate and outdated considering the phenomenal 
increase of the student population and the new thrust in health and nutrition program. 
The approval of this measure is thus earnestly urged. 


14'" CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
14'" CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH AND 
NUTRITION PROGRAM (SHNP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 
AUTHORIZIXG THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and then House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Nutrition Modernization Act." - This Act shall he known as the 
"School Health 
SECTION 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. Towards this end, the School Health and Nutrition Program of the Department 
of Education shall be modernized and upgraded to ensure the attainment ofthat level of 
health to enhance the active learning capacities of the children and for the teachers and 
other personnel to hnction more effectively and efficiently, thus, enabling the 
achievement of the goals of quality basic education. The modernization program under 
this Act shall have the following principal thrusts: 
a. The development of an efficient and effective health care deliver system in the 
schools; 
h. 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. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -The following terms shall he understood in 
this Act to mean: 
a) Department - means the Department of Education 
b) School Health and Nutrition Program - is a comprehensive educational 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. 
c) 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) Pveventzve Health Care - the systematic organization of all the personal 
services necessary to prevent disease, and attain the highest level of health. 


e) HeaZth; and Nutrition Center - refers to the agency that takes charge of the 
over-all management of the integrated School Health and Nutrition 
Program. (SHNP) . 
t) Basic education - consists of six (6) years elementary and four (4) 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 advice on healthy living, 
including hygiene, nutrition, sex education, and advice on 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 hisher needs and aspirations and 
those of society. 
SECTION 4. Objectives of the SHNP, -The SHNP modernization shall he 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 hehaviour; and encourage healthy 
lifestyles among the school populace. 
c) To give full support to school health and nutrition values and behavior. 
d) To encourage parents to provide their children with proper health care and to 
perform effective parenting to prevent drug abuse. 
e) To develop effective linkages between the school and the communityfor better 
school health. 
fj TO strengthen the Health and Nutrition Center in the management of the 
program. 
g)To establish and maintain adequate health and sanitation facilities like school 
clinics, canteens, water supply, sanitary toilets and garbage disposal in the 
sc11001s. 
SECTION 5. Components of the SHNP Modernization, - The modernization 
program shall consist of the following components: 
a. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - To carry out effectively its 
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 to the school children: Provided, That in the upgrading of plantilla 
positions, the compensation and benefits shall be at par with that 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 
training relative to the delivery of health care, and on mobilization, as well as 
administrative responsibilities. A continuing health resource development 
program shall be implemented. 
c) INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT - This component consists of the' 
construction of physical plants and facilities such as sanitary toilets, hand-washing 
facilities, water system, school clinics and feeding centerdcanteens to ensure 
health and nutritional needs in public elementary schools including suitable sites 
for 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; and the upgrading of methods and procedures in 
preventive health care; monitoring and evaluation; and research in support to 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. 
SECTION 6. Priority Programs for SHNP Modernization. - For a more effective 
implementation of the objectives of the SHNP, consistent with the declaration of policy 
of the Constitution as reiterated herein, the following programs/activities shall be given 
priority consideration: 
a, Recruitment of school health and nutrition personnel to attain the ratio of one 
personnel to 2,000 pupildteachers 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; 
c. Provision of equipment, medical and dental supplies and medicines; 
d. Health examination of all Grade I entrants; and provision of supplementary 
feeding (breakfast andlor milk) to the Grade I pupils and nutritionally deprived 
school children. 
SECTION 7. Period oflniplenzentation. - The Modernization Program under this 
Act shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years. 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. - To effectively carry out the objectives of this Act, 
the initial amount of TWO HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P200,OOO.OO) is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated out of any Funds in the National Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, and f?om the funds ofthe Base Conversion and Development Authority, for 
the effective implementation of the SHNP Modernization. ThereaRer, such funds as 
necessary shall be included in the Annual Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 9. Separabillity Clause, - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions which are not otherwise affected thereby 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause, - All laws, executive orders, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to this Act are hereby deemed repealed or 
amended. 
Approved