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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure seeks to institutionalize an Essential Health Care 
Program (EHCP) for public schools to improve the health of children from ages 
six to twelve. The salient features of this bill are: 
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The Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) shall include provisions for
soap, toothpaste with fluoride, and medicine for deworming.
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The Role of the School Division Superintendent who supervises schools
under their jurisdiction shall issue the necessary memorandum for all
school principals under the division to implement the EHCP, oversee the
overall implementation of the EHCP and ensure monitoring of the program
in all schools under the division, ensure the distribution of soap,
toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deworming medicines.
•
The Roles of the School Principals, School Health Personnel, and Teachers
who shall implement the EHCP in public schools for daily handwashing
and toothbrushing, and bi-annual deworming.
•
The Roles of Parents, who shall participate in the continued
implementation of the programs through monitoring activities and
signifying consent for the participation of their children in the EHCP.
Hence, the passage of this measure is sought.   
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
March 14, 2023
4:40 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM FOR 
PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 “Essential Health
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Care Program Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – 
It is the policy of the State to protect 
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and promote the right to health of the people and adopt an integrated and 
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comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
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essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people. The 
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State also recognizes the interrelationship of education and health.  The health 
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of school children highly influences their academic absorption and performance.  
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Toward this end, the State shall institutionalize a health program that will 
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improve the health of the school children to enable them to develop their full 
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potential towards becoming the country’s future leaders and to address the high 
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incidence of drop outs and poor school performances due to health problems. 
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SEC. 3. Essential Health Care Program. – The Department of Education, in 
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coordination with the Department of Health, shall implement an Essential 
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Health Care Program (EHCP) in all public schools to improve the health of the 
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children. Under this program, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste with fluoride and 
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deworming medicines shall be provided for the conduct of daily handwashing, 
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daily tooth brushing and bi-annual deworming of school children from age six to 
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twelve.  
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SEC. 4. Role of the School Division Superintendent. – The school division 
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superintendent who supervises a number of schools in their respective 
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jurisdiction shall: 
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a. Issue a memorandum for all school principals under the division to 
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implement the EHCP; 
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b. Oversee the overall implementation of the EHCP and ensure monitoring of 
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the program in all schools under the division at least once a year; 
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c. Ensure the distribution of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and deworming 
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medicines according to the distribution system of the Department of 
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Education; 
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d. Include in the performance ranking system for teachers and principals the 
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compliance with school health programs like the EHCP;  and 
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e. Promote the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA) by using the 
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EHCP as the focal point in strengthening its linkage with the local 
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government units (LGUs). 
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SEC. 5. Role of the School Principal. – The school principal of a public school 
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shall: 
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a. Call for parent-teacher assemblies for the proper information of parents 
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and teachers about the EHCP; 
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b. Ensure that handwashing and tooth brushing are included in the daily 
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activities of each class in the school;  
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c. Instruct all teachers in the school to ensure strict compliance with the 
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EHCP guidelines;  
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d. Link with LGUs and other stakeholders to create and strengthen a 
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supportive environment;  
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e. Ensure availability and proper distribution of soap, toothpaste, 
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toothbrushes and deworming medicines within the school; 
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f. Ensure monitoring and communication of the results of the EHCP 
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implementation to the teachers, parents and the community at least once 
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a year; and 
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g. Recognize the achievements of teachers and school health personnel 
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through performance ranking. 
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SEC. 6. Role of the School Health Personnel. – To assist the teachers in the 
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implementation of the EHCP, the school health personnel shall: 
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a. Conduct a basic orientation on EHCP for teachers, school administrators, 
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parent-teacher association officials and members and barangay health 
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workers during an assembly called for the purpose;  
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b. Monitor and give feedback to parents, teachers and the principal on the 
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status of implementation of the program at least twice a year; 
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c. Provide teachers and parents with needed information to address 
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questions, concerns and misconceptions on deworming; 
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d. Provide technical support to teachers and oversee deworming activities in 
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their areas of responsibility;  and 
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e. Seek the assistance of barangay health workers during the mass 
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deworming activity. 
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SEC. 7. Role of Teachers. – The teachers who are directly supervising the school 
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children shall: 
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a. Ensure the availability of water, the distribution of toothbrush, toothpaste, 
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soap and deworming tablet for the school children; 
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b. Supervise the school children during the daily toothbrushing and hand 
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washing especially during critical moments, which are, after using the 
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toilet, before eating and after eating; 
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c. Supervise the administration of the deworming medicine;   
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d. Organize the regular cleaning of handwashing facilities;  
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e. Document the activities in a record book and forward the detailed records 
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to the school health personnel for reference and statistical purposes; and 
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f. Facilitate participatory lectures with regard to lessons and observations 
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learned during the health interventions. 
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SEC. 8. Role of Parents. – Recognizing the natural role of parents in rearing their 
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children, the parents shall continue the EHCP activities at home and shall: 
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a. Participate in the annual monitoring of the EHCP; 
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b. Participate in parent-teacher assemblies to convey issues or concerns to 
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the school health personnel; and 
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c. Signify consent for the deworming of their children under the EHCP. 
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SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Education 
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shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring 
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body of the EHCP.  
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The Secretary of Education shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Health, 
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promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation 
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of the provisions of this Act.   
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SEC. 10. Appropriations. – The initial amount of Six hundred million pesos 
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(P600,000,000.00) necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be 
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charged against the current appropriations for the Department of Education and 
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the Department of Health. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the 
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continued implementation of the EHCP shall be included in the annual General 
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Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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