THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There are now close to 3.67 million malnourished children nationwide. This is 
about one-fourth of all school children. If noihing is done with the serious malnutrition level 
among our child population, this figure will worsen. 
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A nutrition survey conducted by the 'Department of Education, Culture and Sports 
(DECS) revealed that 5 out of 10 Filipino children are suffering from varying degrees of 
malnutrition. 
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Milk has been identified as a complete and nutritious food. It supplies more of the 
essential nutrients in significant amounts than any other single food. Milk and milk products can 
play a vital role in'providing the basic nutribon the Filipino citizenry needs, especially its 
growing child population. 
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One of the thrusts of the current administration is the improvement of the nutritional 
status of children through the School Milk Feeding Program. This is being done by the National 
Dairy Authority (NDA) and co-implemented 1 by the Department of Agriculture, Education, 
Health and Social Welfare, along with the support of concerned local government units and noble 
individuals in areas where modest local dairy operations are ongoing. However, the program's 
reach is minimal. The NDA reported that bareiy 1.5% of the 3.7 million malnourished children 
nationwide, or some 50,000 children have been benefited since 1995. 
This bill seeks to establish a milk feeding program for children 5-10 years old, to be 
sourced from locally produced milk. 
The funding for the program will come from tariff 
collections from the importation of milk and other dairy products as well as of dairy equipment 
and implements, and if insufficient, from the resident's Social Fund. As an incentive to the 
supporters of the program, they will be gi en a tax credit equivalent to 100% of their 
contribution. Seventy percent (70%) of the fun' shall be used for the milk feeding program and 
thirty percent (30%) shall be used for other dai i 
and dairy-related activities. 
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This bill will realize our hope for a better, healthier, and more productive population who 
will ultimately contribute to the development of our rural communities. Our dairy farmers will 
also benefit from the resulting expanded market base and greater funding assistance for the dairy 
industry. 


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In view of the above, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MANUEL B. VI 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
$.I&. 
590 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL MILK WEEDING PROGRAM AND 
PROVIDING FOR MILKFEEDING FUND THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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OF2004. 
SECTION 1. Title of the Act - This Act shall be known as the MILKFEEDING ACT 
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SECTION 2. Declaration ofpolicy - The State shall ensure the health and welfare of 
the vulnerable children population and shall institute effective mechanisms to carry out this 
policy. The State shall ensure the supply of regular food supplement for children in order to 
create a future generation of physically and mentally developed youth. 
SECTION 3. Milk Feeding Defined - Milk feeding, as used in this Act, shall cover 
contribution of locally produced milk from cows, carabaos and goats for direct intake of children 
aged 5-10 years old nationwide. The milk shall come from the produce of local dairy producers 
and processors at a price and quality acceptable to both the local milk suppliers and milk feeding 
sponsors, private or government. 
No milk intended for milk feeding shall be used for 
commercial sale. 
SECTION 4. Priority Coverage - Priority shall be given to children who are in the 
barangay day care centers, pre-schools and schools located in the rural areas of the country and 


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where prevalence of malnutrition is high. Second priorities are nursing mothers, pregnant 
women and elderly persons who also reside in rural communities. 
SECTION 5. Milk Feeding Fund - There is hereby allocated an initial amount of 
THREE “ D R E D  MILLION PESOS (P300M) out of the 1999 tax collection of the National 
Government from the importation of milk and dairy products as well as dairy equipment and 
implements in order to enhance and augment the existing funds for the National Milk Feeding 
Program of the National Dairy Authority. Said allocation shall constitute the seed money for the 
Milk Fund. Annually, thereafter, the Milk Feeding Fund shall be augmented by seventy-five 
percent (75%) of the annual tax collection of the National Government from the importation of 
milk and dairy products as well as dairy equipment and implements; Seventy percent (70%) of 
which shall be used for the National Feeding Program and the balance of thirty percent (30%) 
shall be used for other dairy and dairy-related activities. 
SECTION 6. Funding Alternatives - In the event that the milk import tariff fund 
allocation is insufficient, alternative funding shall be automatically sourced from the President’s 
Social Fund, equivalent to at least 10% thereof. 
SECTION 7. Allocation of Funding - The Department of Budget and Management and 
of Finance are hereby directed to set aside the amounts from the taxes collected on the 
importation of milk and dairy products as well as dairy equipment and implements, and/or secure 
the 10% automatic allocation from the President’s Social Fund. 
SECTION 8. Implementing Authority - The National Dairy Authority, consistent with 
its mandate under Republic Act No. 7884, is hereby authorized to utilize the afore-said funds for 
the National Milk Feeding Program and other dairy and dairy-related development activities. The 
NDA shall tap bonafide and reputable women’s organizations as milk feeding partners as well as 
other government agencies, people’s organizations and non-government organizations (NGOs) 
with a social reform, pro-poor and pro-child agenda. 
SECTION 9. Milk Feeding Incentives - Any private entity or benefactor, local or 
foreign, who supports the Milk Feeding Program in whatever form, shall be given due tax credit 
equivalent to 100% of the value of their contribution to the program. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations and 
other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly. 


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SECTION 11. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
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Approved, 
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