FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
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Senate Bill No. 39 8 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 15 of Article 2 of the Constitution provides that, "The State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
consciousness among them." 
One of the major components of providing effective health services is the 
dissemination of relevant and accurate information on nutrition. However, the 
relationship between nutrition and health is often overlooked which results to less 
attention and importance given to research and creation of database on nutrition. 
Moreover, multitude sources of information which are often not in congruence 
with one another causes confusion among the public. 
This measure seeks to create a permanent Council on Nutrition and 
Health under the Department of Health. The said Council shall focus its efforts 
on consolidating and monitoring research and information on nutrition that will be 
made readily available to the public. This will not only provide our people with 
the sound information on nutrition and its importance to our general health but 
will also encourage more endeavors towards research and development on 
these fields. 
Immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
7 &- -z I3 5 
8
,
 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 398 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH A PERMANENT 
COUNCIL ON NUTRITION AND HEALTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Shod Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Nutrition and 
Health AcP'. 
SEC 2. Purpose. - The purpose of this Act is to establish within the 
Department of Health a Council on Nutrition and Health that will assemble the 
existing information on the relationship between nutrition and human health, 
monitor the progress of ongoing research, identify the aspects of the relationship 
between nutrition and health that require additional research, maintain the base 
of information in an understandable and retrievable fashion, and serve as a 
clearinghouse for information on the relationship between nutrition and human 
health. 
SEC 3. Definitjon. -As used in this Act - 
1. "Council" means the Council on Nutrition and Health, as established in 
Section 4(a) of this Act. 
2. "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
SEC 4. Establishment and Staffing of the Council on Nutrition. - 
(a) Establishment - The Council on Nutrition and Health is hereby 
established within the Department of Health 
(b) Membership - 
(1) Appointment - The Council shall consist of nine (9) voting 
members, all of whom shall be appointed by the President. 
(2) Eligibility for Membership - The members of the Council shall be 
chosen from among individuals who are knowledgeable in the 
fields of health, human nutrition, food production and distribution, 


and agriculture. Such members shall be selected solely on the 
basis of an established record of distinguished service in the areas 
of expertise of such individuals. 
(3) Ex-Officio Members - The Secretary and the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall be ex-officio members of the Council. 
(c) Term of Office - 
(1) In General - Each member of the Council shall be appointed for a 
term of three (3) years, except that members appointed to the 
initial Council shall serve, proportionately, for terms of one (I), 
two 
(2) and three (3) years, as determined by the Secretary at the time 
of appointment. 
(2) Vacancy - A member of the Council who is appointed to fill a 
vacancy in the Council occurring prior to the expiration of the term 
for which the predecessor of such member was appointed, shall 
be appointed pursuant to subsection (b)(l) only for the remainder 
of the term of his predecessor. 
(3) Expiration of Term - A member of the Council may serve after the 
expiration of the term of office of such member until the successor 
for such member has taken his oath and assumed office. 
(4) Eligibility for Successive Terms - A member of the Council shall 
be eligible to serve successive terms of office. 
(d) Leadership of Council - 
(1) Selection - A Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson of the Council 
shall be selected by the President from among the members of the 
Council. 
(2) Term of Office - The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the 
Council, as referred to in paragraph (I), shall serve for a term of 
three (3) years. 
(e) Meetings of the Council - 
(1) Frequency of Meetings - The Chairperson of the Council, as 
referred to in subsection (d), shall convene a meeting of the 
Council not less than once during each three-month period. 
(2) Quorum - At a properly convened meeting of the Council, the 
presence of five (5) Council members shall constitute a quorum. 
(9 Compensation - A  member of the Council shall be paid or reimbursed for 
travel to and from the place of service of such member and for other 
expenses associated with the responsibilities as a member of the 
Council. 
(9) Staff - The staff of the Council shall be permanent employees of the 
Department of Health of such rank, grade, and function as considered to 
be appropriate by the Secretary 


SEC 5. Responsibilities of the Council. - 
(A) In General -The Council shall - 
(1) assemble the existing information on the relationship between 
nutrition and health: 
(2) identify and collect the ongoing research within the various 
national and local governmental agencies, the private sector in the 
country, and in foreign countries; 
(3) identify the aspects of the relationship between nutrition and 
health that require additional research; 
(4) monitor ongoing research into the role of nutrition in health, 
including - 
(a) methods by which the nutritional value of domestically- 
produced food products may be improved; 
(b) the relationship between the consumption of specific foods 
and nutrients and the incidence and treatment of specific 
diseases and conditions; and, 
(c) the optimal level of foods and nutrients that are appropriate 
under various health conditions to maximize specific human 
capabilities; 
(5) monitor the progress of nutrition education efforts among the 
health profession, other segments of the society, and the general 
public; and 
(6) maintain an understandable and retrievable database of existing 
scientific information on the relationship of nutrition and health and 
serve as a clearinghouse for such information. 
(6) Rules and Regulations - The Council is authorized to adopt such rules 
and regulations as maybe necessary to carry out this Act. 
SEC 6. Responsibility of other Agencies to Cooperate with the Council. - 
Each agency and private entity that is performing nutrition research that is 
completely or partially funded by appropriated funds shall cooperate with the 
Council by informing the Council of the research of such agency or entity, and by 
filing a copy of the final report of the product of such research with the Council. 
SEC 7. Treatment of lnformation on File. - Submission of information or 
date on the relationship between nutrition and health to the Council shall not 
affect statutory law trademark status, copyright, or patent rights. 
SEC 8. Reporfs. - 


(a) In General - Not later than December 31 of each year, the Council 
shall submit a report to the Secretary on the progress of its work and 
any areas of suggested research into the relationship between 
nutrition and health. 
(b) Distribution - Following the receipt by the Secretary of the annual 
report of the Council under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
immediately distribute such report, along with recommendations of the 
Secretary regarding such report, to the President, the Secretary of 
Agriculture, and the appropriate committees of the Congress as well 
as to such other agencies and departments as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
SEC 9. Authorization of Appropriations. - The appropriation from the 
National Treasury of such sums that may be necessary to carry out this Act is 
hereby authorized. 
SEC 10. 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. 
SEC 11, 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 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,