Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVHS
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.    8244
Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1 st District, Ilocos Norte
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The   1987   Philippine   Constitution   states   that   "The   State   shall
protect  and promote the right to  health  of the people and  instill  health
consciousness among them (Section 15, Article 11).
It  further provides  that  "The  State  shall  adopt  an  integrated  and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to
make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the
people  at  affordable  cost.  There  shall  be  priority  for the  needs  of the
underprivileged  sick,  elderly,  disabled,  women,  and children.  The  State
shall  endeavor  to  provide  free  medical  care  to  paupers"  (Sec.11,  Art.
XIII).
Finally, it mandates that "The State shall establish and maintain an
effective  food  and  drug  regulatory  system  and  undertake  appropriate
health manpower development and research, responsive to the country's
health needs and problems" (Sec.12, Art. XIII).
Under  the  Local  Government  Code  of  1991,  among  the  basic
services  and  facilities  which  barangays  are  mandated  to  provide  are
"Health   and   social   welfare   services   which   include   maintenance   of
Barangay health center and day-care center" (Sec.17, R.A. No. 7160). In
the  list,  however,   of  elective  and  appointive  offlcials  of  barangays,
conspicuously absent are barangay nutrition workers.
This  bill,  therefore,  provides   for  the  creation  of  a  mandatory
position of Barangay Nutrition Worker in every barangay in recognition
of the manifold nutrition problems (indicative of malnutrition and under-
nutrition   are   phenomena   such   as    stunting,    obesity,    etc.)    in   our
communities,  especially  as  they  affect  preschool  and  school  children,


pregnant women and lactating mothers and other vulnerable groups in our
barangays.
This measure repeals and supersedes Presidential Decree No.1569,
entitled  "Strengthening  The  Barangay Nutrition  Program By  Providing
For A Barangay Nutrition Scholar In Every Barangay, Providing Funds
Therefor, And For Other Purposes", which was promulgated for a similar
Purpose.
In view of the foregoing considerations, the early approval of this
bill is eamestly requested.
FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.     8244
Introduced by Rep. FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS
1 St District, Ilocos Norte
AN ACT
CREATING   THE   POSITION   OF   BARANGAY   NUTRITION
WORKER IN  EVERY  BARANGAY,  PROVIDING  INCENTIVES
THERETO, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  Of  R.epresentatives  Of  the
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION  1. S7!orf rz.f/e. -This Act shall be known and referred
to as the "Barangay Nutrition Worker Act."
SEC. 2. Bczrczngcz}; IVwfrz./I.o7! Progr¢m. - To  further strengthen the
Barangay    Nutrition    Program,    there    shall    be    created    under    the
administration  and  supervision  of  the  National  Nutrition  Council,  in
coordination  with  the  city  or  municipality  and  the  barangay,  one  (1)
mandatory position of Barangay Nutrition Worker in every barangay with
a monthly allowance of not less than Five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00).
SEC.  3.  Bczrcz73gr);  IVc4Zrz.fz.o7c   Wrorfrer.  -  The  Barangay  Nutrition
Worker  shall  be  appointed  by the  Mayor,  with  the  concurrence  of the
majority   of   all    Sangguniang   Bayan    or    Sangguniang    Panlungsod
Members,   and  the   Sangguniang  Barangay  concerned.   The  Barangay


Nutrition  Worker  shall  be  responsible  for  delivering  nutrition  services
and  other  related  activities  such  as  community  health,  backyard  food
production,  environmental  sanitation,  culture,  supplemental  feeding  and
responsible parenthood to the barangay.
SEC.   4.   Servz.ces.   -   The   Barangay   Nutrition   Worker,   while
undergoing training under the barangay nutrition program, shall serve the
barangay on a voluntary basis for at least six (6) months. Thereafter, the
National Nutrition Council shall assess his or her performance and make
the necessary recommendation for his or her appointment.
SEC.  5.    gc4cz/z#cczfz.o#s.  -  The  Barangay Nutrition  Worker  shall
possess the following qualifications:
a) Bona fide resident of the barangay for at least one (1) year, with
ability to speak the major dialect;
b) With leadership potentials and the initiative and willingness to
serve the barangay for at least one ( 1 ) year;
c) Willingness to learn and to teach what he or she has leamed to
the barangay residents;
d) At least a secondary school graduate;
e) Physical and mental fltness; and
I)  At  least  eighteen  (18)  years  old  but  not  more  than  sixty  (60)
years old.


SEC.  6.  Recrc4z.fme#f.  - The  Barangay Nutrition  Worker  shall  be
recruited  from  within the barangay  and  shall  be tested  on the basis  of
mental ability and work aptitude.
SEC. 7.  rr¢z.#g.73g. - Before actual barangay service, the Barangay
Nutrition  Worker  shall  undergo  appropriate  and  sufficient  training  on
selected    topics,    such    as    nutrition,    health,    food    production    and
environmental   sanitation,   based   on   deflned   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 practicum to be conducted in the barangay where the
worker  is  assigned,  and  such  activity  shall  be  in  coordination  with  the
local training team.
SEC.  8.  Be7£e¢ts.   -  The  Barangay  Nutrition  Worker  shall  be
entitled to a training stipend, meal and travel allowance of at least Three
hundred  pesos  (P300)  per  day.  During  the  period  of volunteer  service
prior to his or her appointment, the worker shall be entitled to allowance
of Five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) a month.
The  Barangay Nutrition  Worker  shall  be  granted  a  civil  service
eligibility equivalent to second grade after the completion of at least two
(2) years of continuous and satisfactory service in the barangay.
SEC. 9. J#ce#/i.vex. -To further enhance the nutrition program, the
National  Nutrition  Council,  in  coordination  with  the  Commission  on
Higher    Education,    shall    formulate    a    scholarship    program    where
incumbent and deserving barangay nutrition workers  shall be  given the
opportunity  to   avail   of  a  scholarship   grant  in   any  state   college   or
university and pursue a course relevant to his or her present position.


SEC.   10.   IVw/7'z.fz.o73    Com7"z.//ees.   -   The   organization   of  local
nutrition committees and the implementation of their respective nutrition
programs   shall  be  the  responsibility  of  the  Provincial/City  Nutrition
Committee  headed  by  the  Governor/City  Mayor  as  Chairman  and  a
Municipal Nutrition Committee headed by the Mayor as Chairman.
SEC.  11. £oc¢/  rrczz.#z.#g  reczrm.  -  The  local  training  team  of the
municipality or city shall be composed of two (2) members chosen from
among the members of the Municipal or City Nutrition Committee. This
team  shall  follow  up  the  activities  of the  trained  Barangay  Nutrition
Worker.
SEC.  12. JZo/e o/ffee A4cz)/or.  -The Municipal or City Mayor shall
initiate   activities   to   implement   the   nutrition   program   within   the
municipality   or   city,   organize   the   local   training   teams   and   may
recommend   the    appropriation   by   the    munipality/city   of   a   local
counterpart in the form of additional allowance for the barangay nutrition
worker.
S;Eic.  L3.  Barangay  Nutrition  Workers  Staff  Secretariat.  There
shall be a staff secretariat in every province/city which shall monitor the
program, identify its problems and recommend possible solutions thereto.
SEC.   14.   IVcz/z.o#cz/   IVwfrz./I.o73   Cow#cz./.   The   National   Nutrition
Council shall formulate rules and regulations, plans and programs within
the limits set forth in this Act, allocate the funds to the various provinces
and/or agencies, for disbursement in accordance with the financial plan of
the Barangay Nutrition Program.


SEC.  15. Do7cofz.o73s. -For puxposes of this Program, the National
Nutrition  Council  and  the  local  governments,  are  authorized  to  receive
grants,  donations,  gifts  or  bequests  from  various  government  agencies
and government corporations which shall be tax exempt.
SEC.  16. 4ppraprz.¢fz.o77s.  -  The  amount  necessary  for the  initial
implementation  of this  Act  is  hereby  appropriated  from  any  available
funds in the National Treasury or from the  Special Activities Fund and
authorized to be released. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for
the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.
Local  governments  are  likewise  authorized  to  appropriate  such
amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act; Provz.did,
That the city or municipality shall appropriate as part of its annual budget
for personal  services the necessary amount of Five thousand pesos (Php
5,000.00)  per  month  per  Barangay  Nutrition  Worker;   and  Provz.dad
/wr/fear,  That  third  to  fifth  class  municipalities  shall  appropriate  Two
thousand   pesos   (Php   2,000.00)   per   month   per   Barangay   Nutrition
Worker.   The   difference  in  the  Five  thousand  pesos   (Php   5,000.00)
monthly allowance per Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be included in
the   General   Appropriations   Act   (GAA)   for  the   year   following   the
enactment of this Act.
SEC.  17.  Sepczrczbg./I.fy  C/czwse.  -  If any provisions  or part  of this
Act is  declared unconstitutional  or invalid,  the other provisions or parts
thereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


SEC.   18.   Repecz/I.#g   C/czwse.   -   The  provisions   of  Presidential
Decree No.1569 and all other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
and  other issuances  or parts  thereof inconsistent with the provisions  of
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC.19. Ejj7rec/z.vz.ty C/czwse. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper
of general circulation.
Approved,