SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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) 
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SENATE 
S.B. No. 523 
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"13 
JUL -8 
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Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Presidential Decree No. 1569 was issued in 1978 to address the prevailing 
conditions of malnutrition in the country. It aimed to tackle malnutrition concerns, 
specifically in the grassroots level, by initiating a project that will provide a nutrition 
worker for every barangay. 
Though said law considerably contributed to the significant reduction of 
malnutrition in the country, at present the number of malnourished children is still at 
an alarming level. It is therefore necessary to examine the implementation of the above 
mandate for the country to have a well-nourished population -
one that would 
contribute to the national economic welfare. 
In recognition of the above, this bill seeks to create a mandatory position of 
Barangay Nutrition Worker in every barangay. A salient feature of the bill is the 
enumerated qualifications of said nutrition workers, requiring them to be at least a high 
school graduate. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No.523 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
AN ACT 
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'13 
JUL -8 A 8 :21 
CREATING THE POSITION OF BARANGAY NUTRITION WORKER IN EVERY 
BARANGAY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1569 
Be it enacted by, the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine~ in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Presidential Decree No. 1569 entitled "Strengthening the Barangay 
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Nutrition Program by providing for a Nutrition Scholar in Every Barangay" is hereby 
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amended to read as follows: 
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"SECTION 1. BARANGAY NUTRITION PROGRAM. To strengthen the 
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Barangay Nutrition Program, there shall be CREATED under the administration 
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and SUPERVISION 
of 
the 
NATIONAL 
NUTRITION. COUNCIL 
IN 
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COORDINATION WITH THE CITY or MUNICIPALITY and the BARANGAY, 
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ONE (1) MANDATORY POSITION OF BARANGAY NUTRITION WORKER IN 
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EVERY BARANGAY WITH A MdNTHLY ALLOWANCE OF NOT LESS THAN 
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FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,OOO.OO). 
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SECTION 2. BARANGA Y "NUTRITION WORKER. The Barangay 
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Nutrition Worker shall be APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR WITH" THE 
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CONCURRENCE OF THE MAJORITY OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE 
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SANGGUNIANG BAY AN OR THE SANGGUNIANG Panlunsod, THE 
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SANGGUNIANG 
BARANGAY 
CONCERNED 
AND 
UPON 
THE 
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RECOMMENDATION OF THE NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL. The 
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barangay nutrition worker shall be responsible for delivering nutrition services 
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and other related activities such as community health, backyard food production, 
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environmental sanitation, culture, supplemental feeding and family planning to 
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the barangay. 
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environmental sanitation, culture, supplemental feeding and family planning to 
the barangay. 
SECTION 3. 
SERVICES. 
The barangay nutrition worker, while 
[continuously learning] UNDERGOING ACTUAL TRAINING under this 
program, shall serve the barangay on a voluntary basis for at least [a period of 
one year] SIX MONTHS. THEREAFTER, THE NATIONAL NUTRITION 
COUNCIL SHALL ASSESS HIS/HER PERFORMANCE AND MAKE THE 
NECESSARY RECOMMENDATION FOR HIS/HER APPOINTMENT. 
SECTION 4. QUALIFICATIONS. The qualifications of a Barangay 
Nutrition Worker shall be as follows: 
a. Bonafide resident of the barangay for at least one (1) year, with ability to 
speak the dialect, if applicable; 
b. Possession of leadership potentials and the initiative and willingness to serve 
the barangay (for at least one year); 
c. Willingness to learn and to teach what he/she learned to the barangay 
people; 
d. At least a (primary) HIGHSCHOOL graduate; 
e. Physical and mental fitness; and 
f. At least eighteen (18) years old but not more than sixty (60) years old. 
SECTION 5. RECRUITMENT. The barangay nutrition wor~er shall be 
recruited from' within the barangay and shall be tested on mental· ability and 
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proper work attitude. 
SECTION 6. TRAINING. Before actual barangay service, the barangay 
nutrition worker shall undergo a ten-day (10) training on selected topics such as 
nutrition, health, food production and environmental sanitation - based on 
defined task expectations to be conducted by a provincial training team in 
coordination with the municipal and barangay nutrition committee. This training 
shall be supplemented by a twenty-day (20) practicum to be conducted in the 
barangay where the worker is assigned, and such activity shall be in 
coordination with the local training team. 
SECTION 7. BENEFITS. The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be entitled 
to a training stipend, meal and travel allowance of at least P250.00 a day. 
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DURING THE PERIOD OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE PRIOR TO HIS/HER 
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APPOINTMENT, THEY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO ALLOWANCE OF TWO 
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THOUSAND PESOS (P2,000.00) A MONTH. 
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The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be granted a civil service eligibility 
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equivalent to second grade after the completion of at least two (2) years of 
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continuous and satisfactory service in the barangay. 
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SECTION 8. INCENTIVES. TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE PROGRAM, 
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THE NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL, IN COORDINATION WITH THE 
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DEPARTMEN:r OF EDUCATION, SHALL FORMULATE A SCHOLARSHIP 
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PROGRAM 
WHERE 
INCUMBENT 
AND 
DESERVING 
BARANGAY 
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NUTRITION WORKERS SHALL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO A V AIL 
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OF A SCHOLARSHIP GRANT IN ANY STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY 
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AND PURSUE A COURSE RELEVANT TO HIS/HER PRESENT POSITION. 
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SECTION 9. NUTRITION COMMITTEES. The implementation of this 
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project shall be under the full responsibility of a Provincial/City Nutrition 
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Committee headed by the Governor/City Mayor as Chairman and a Municipal 
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Nutrition Committee headed by the Mayor as Chairman. 
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SECTION 10. LOCAL TRAINING TEAM. The local training team of the 
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municipality shall be composed of two members chosen from among the 
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members of the Municipal Nutrition Committee. This team shall follow up the 
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activities of the trained barangay nutrition worker. 
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SECTION 11. ROLE OF THE MAYOR. The Municipal/City Mayor shall 
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initiate activities to implement this project within the municipality, organize the 
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local training teams and may recommend the appropriation by his 
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municipality / city of a local counterpart in the form of additional allowance for 
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the barangay nutrition worker. 
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SECTION 
12. 
BARANGAY 
NUTRITION 
WORKERS 
STAFF 
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SECRETARIAT. There shall be a staff secretariat in every province/ city which 
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shall monitor the progress of the program, identify its problems and recommend 
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possible solutions thereto. 
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SECTIC?N 13. NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL. Tfe National 
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Nutrition Council shall formulate rules and regulations, plans al(d programs 
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within the limits set forth in this Act, allocate the funds for this project to the 
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various provinces and/ or agencies, for disbursement in accordance with the 
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financial plan of the Barangay Nutrition Workers Project. 
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SECTION 14. DONATIONS. For the purposes of this Program, the 
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National Nutrition Council and the local governments, are authorized to receive 
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grants, donations, gifts or bequests from various government agencies, 
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government corporations and private entities, such donation being tax exempt. 
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SECTION 15. APPROPRIATIONS. The amount of One Million Pesos 
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(Pl,OOO,OOO.OO) out of any available funds from the National Treasury or from the 
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Special Activities Fund is hereby appropriated and authorized to be released for 
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the organization and initial operation of the Council and the local governments 
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for the purposes of this program. Local governments are likewise authorized to 
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appropriate such amount necessary for the successful implementation of this 
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program. PROVIDED, THAT THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL 
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APPROPRIATE AS PART OF ITS ANNUAL BUDGET FOR PERSONAL 
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SERVICES THE NECESSARY AMOUNT OF ONE THOUSAND PESOS 
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(PI,OOO.OO) PER MONTH PER BARANGA Y NUTRITION WORKER, PROVIDED 
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FURTHER, THAT THIRD TO FIFTH CLASS MUNICIPALITIES SHALL 
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APPROPRIATE FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) PER MONTH PER 
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BARANGA Y NUTRITION WORKER. 
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THE DIFFERENCE IN THE FIVE THOUSAND PESOSi (P5,OOO.OO) 
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MONTHLY ALLOWANCE PER BARANGA Y NUTRITION WORKER SHALL 
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BE INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT (GAA) FOR THE 
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YEAR FOLLOWING ITS ENACTMENT. 
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SEC 2. Separability Clause. Should any part or provision of this Act be declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not otherwise affected 
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thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC 3. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders or any part thereof 
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which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC 4. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon publication in the Official 
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Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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