THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
S. B. No. 
SENA5Et;8 . 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Good nutrition and a balanced diet are important to help children grow up healthy. 
Nutrition plays a major role in children's health and also affects their performance in school. 
Children's peak performance at school can be attributed much to good nutrition and eating habits. 
Eating a nutritious meal has an effect on cognition, strength, attitudes and endurance at school. 
Hungry, weak children are not alert and are less active in class. 
It is important to improve the standard of health of children through proper nutrition 
education and good health practices, particularly a good diet. This Act aims to provide 
supplementary food to public elementary school students to improve their general health and 
help them reach better scholastic achievements. 
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THLRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
. 
~~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
1 
“7 
<;!;’! 
-5 
, 
’ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS OF 
PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short title. - This Act shall be known as the “Healthy Students Act of 
2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
promote good health among the youth. The State shall promote programs that will improve the 
nutrition value of meals given to children by providing free meals for students of public 
elementary schools. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - 
1, 
School meal program - shall refer to the free meal (breakfast or lunch) to be 
served by the public elementary schools to their students at least once every 
school day; 
2. 
Commission - commission to be constituted by the DepEd for the 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
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3. 
Public elementary schools - shall refer to all public elementary schools accredited 
with the DepEd. 
SECTION 4. School meals program. - Every public elementary school throughout the 
country shall be entitled to apply for funds to be used for school meals program as provided for 
under this Act. 
SECTION 5. Guidelines.- 
A. 
Commission 
1. 
In General - The Department f Education (DepEd) shall constitute a 
“Commission to Formulate and Improve School Meals for Students of Public Elementary 
Schools”, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”; 
2. 
Membership - The DepEd shall appoint members of the Commission from 
among individuals who axe nutritionists, pediatricians, or experts in nutrition and 
children’s health. 
3. 
Duties - The Commission shall-- 
a. 
review available dietary guidelines that are relevant for children; 
b. 
evaluate the nutritional and dietary needs of school-age children 
and recommend nutritional standards for establishing a healthy school 
nutrition program; 
c. 
new nutritional standards for the school meal programs under this Act; 
not later than 90 days after the date of enactment this Act, develop 
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d. 
evaluate compliance with and enforcement of the minimum 
nutritional requirements established under subparagraph (c); 
e. 
not later than 90 days after nutritional standards are developed 
under subparagraph (c), the Commission shall promulgate and implement 
rules, based on the standards, that establish minimum nutritional 
requirements for food served under the meals programs for students of 
public elementary schools as provided €or under this Act 
B. 
School Nutrition Programs 
1. 
In General - The Commission shall carry out a program under which the 
Commission shall provide funds to public eleme~~lary 
schools for school meal programs 
under this Act ; 
2. 
Uses - Funds provided under this subsection may be used 
a. 
b. 
c. 
d. 
programs that promote healthy alternatives for students. 
to provide an healthy foods in the meals served under programs; 
to promote healthy food education in the school curriculum; 
to carry out garden to kitchen or seed to table programs; or 
to provide professional development for teachers to carry out 
C. 
Study Report 
1. 
Study - During the first year of the iinplementation of this Act, in which 
funds are used by schools, the Commission shall conduct a study of the results of the 
school meals program; 
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2. 
Report - Not later than 90 days after the date on which the study is 
completed under subparagraph (1) above, the Commission shall submit to the DepEd a 
report that describes the results of the study. 
SECTION 6. Eligibility of Schools. - Only public elementary schools shall be entitled to 
the school meals program as provided for under this Act. 
SECTION 7. Application- An eligible school desiring the grant of funds for the 
implementation of the school meals program under this Act shall subinit the application for the 
same at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commission may 
require. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
Rcci06-05-07 
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