Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES|

Hes OF REPRE

ENTATIVES
REC,
AYER

DATE:

Quezon City TIME: Faia
By:
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS By ke
First Regular Session .
Buus NO poe UNIT:
S X SERVICE
HOUSE BILL NO.. 1558

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute shows malnutrition
is prevalent in Filipino children’. Results showed that 15.9% or two out of ten
children from 0 to 47 months old were born with low birth weight or were less than
5.5 Ibs.

The results also showed that 20.2% of children in this category were underweight,
while 33.6% were stunted or had lower heights for their age. 7.3% of the children
suffered from acute malnutrition.*

In the five to ten years old category, results were much higher. 32% of children in
this category were underweight while 33.6% had low heights for their age. The
percentage of children suffering acute malnutrition was 8.5%.*

Without a doubt, proper nutrition is necessary to have a fulfilling and healthy life.
High malnutrition levels lead to development issues and an increase in poverty in
regions like the Philippines.®

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, due to the lack of nourishing
food sources and nutrition education, hunger and malnutrition are still dominant in
the Philippines. In fact, these problems have been linked with high rates of poverty
and an ever growing population.

* http://fnri.dost-gov.ph/index php/nutrition-statistic
* Ibid
* Ibid
* Ibid

* inttps://www.wfp.org/countries/philippines


Though the national government has exerted effort to reduce hunger and
malnutrition, still four in ten households in the Philippines are unable to provide their
children nutritionally adequate meals according to the FNRI.°

Fighting malnutrition in the Philippines is a difficult task, but it should not be
considered unimportant. The betterment of the Philippines’ future relies on its
children; children who need proper nutrition to grow into healthy adults. Government
funding and continued education are key to fighting malnutrition in the Philippines.

This bill seeks to halt the vicious cycle of hunger and poverty in the Philippines.
The bill has the following salient points:

1, It institutionalizes the “Libreng Pananghalian sa Pampublikong Paaralan”
Program and for its feasible implementation. Initially, school children in the
elementary levels including kindergarten in public schools shall be given free
nutritious meals. Following the K-12 Policy, it shall cover pupils in the Kindergarten
and Grades I-VI. On its third year of implementation, the Program shall cover all
levels of public elementary schools including kindergarten and Junior High School
Level of the K-12 Policy. On its fifth year of implementation, the Program shall cover
both elementary and high school levels in the K -12 public education sector.

2. As the legislation recognizes administrative and resources limitations, public
schools in areas where severe malnutrition are reported, armed conflict and highly
congested shall be prioritized.

3. Private sector support is encouraged in this Act. It can be through their
respective Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities or through simple
donations to public schools

4. A unified body composed of relevant government agencies is created. The
reason is to have an integrated approach to oversee the meaningful implementation
of the Program.

Pursuant to the Philippine Agenda 21, the only rational way of planning the country's
national progress is through sustainable development: meeting the needs of citizens
of today without limiting the options of future generations to fulfill their needs. Hence,
the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LUIS MUND “1 ” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

* supra


Republic of the Philippines:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1558
HOUSE BILLNO,_

by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT INSTITUTING A FREE NUTRI-MEALS PROGRAM TO CHILDREN
ENROLLED IN ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS INCLUDING KINDERGARTEN
AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION SECTOR, PROVIDING
FRAMEWORK FOR ITS MEANINGFUL IMPLEMENTATION, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled;

Section 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Libreng Pananghalian sa
Pampublikong Paaralan Act of 2016.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is a declared policy of the State that it
shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure an improved quality of
life for all. Towards this end, it is the objective of this Act to provide a government-
united and practical feasible approach to address the issue of malnutrition and
hunger among school children in public elementary schools including kindergarten
and high schools through the institutionalization of the Libreng Pananghalian sa
Pampublikong Paaralan Program (the “Program” for brevity)

Section 3. Libreng Pananghalian sa Pampublikong Paaralan - To improve
nutrition, health, class attendance, attentiveness and academic performance in
school, as well as to increase the sociability of children in public elementary and
high schools, Libreng Pananghalian sa Pampublikong Paaralan Program is hereby
institutionalized

The Program is a nutrition-driven initiative and is a free nutri-meals program
for school children enrolled in public schools. The food shall be served at the start of
the class for five (5) days a week and to complete the duration of one hundred and
twenty (120) feeding days. The duration of the feeding program may be extended
depending on the assessment and evaluation of its beneficiaries.


The Program shall follow a 5-year full implementation phase. The Program
shall be initially implemented in all public elementary schools including kindergarten
centers (Kindergaten to Grade VI, following the K-12 Policy)

On the third year after the enactment of this Act, the Program shall be
implemented in all public elementary schools including kindergarten and in the Junior
High School levels following the K-12 Policy.

On the fifth year of its implementation, its implementation shall be
simultaneous in all levels in the elementary and kindergarten and secondary
education, covering both Junior and Senior High School Levels.

Provided, That prioritization in the implementation of this Act shall be
accorded to: (a) schools located in areas where there is severe malnuttition; (b)
schools where there are numerous "severely wasted" pupils reported; (c) schools
located in areas of armed conflict; and (d) schools located in highly congested areas.

Section 4. Child Nutrition Network. - There is hereby created a body called
the Child Nutrition Network (CNN) to implement the Program. It shall be composed
of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Nutrition
Council (NNC), the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Department of Health
(DOH). The Secretary of DepEd and the Secretary of DSWD shall be Co-
Chairpersons of the CNN.

The CNN shall then establish a Nutrition Framework for its implementation.
The Nutrition Framework, among others, will serve as blueprint containing the
following

(a) integrated package of nutrition services;

(b) institutionalization of a system of qualification, accreditation and the
corresponding incentives for private corporations;

(c) development of a database of information, knowledge and best practices
for nutrition programs;

(d) food and health aspects of school-based implementation to ensure the
proper nutritional and caloric contents of meals to be given, among others;

(e) Standard weighing protocols and instruments to be utilized in schools;

(f) Program cost per student per meal and administration costs and the
continuing re-examination and re-evaluation of said costs;

(g) monitoring progress report on children;


(h) participation of communities and civil society and private-public sector
partnership; and

(i) other details necessary for the efficient and proper implementation of the
program.

Section 5. Integrated Nutrition Education and Social Preparation. - The
Program shall be complemented by public health and nutrition education campaign
programs, which will aim to promote a holistic and integrated approach to health and
nutrition education of school pupils. For this purpose, relevant and user-friendly
nutrition information and education materials shall be developed and distributed in
the public school. Orientation-training shall be held among DepEd health and
nutrition unit personnel at the regional and division levels, concerned local
government representatives, and the parent-teacher associations (PTAs), in order to
orient them on the Program's objectives and mechanics and generate support for the
Program

Section 6. Periodic Health Examination. A simultaneous health examination
including relevant vaccination and de-worming of all school pupils shall be
undertaken before the start of the Program, and shall be conducted by either the
respective local Health Officer or Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). Children found
with ailments shall be given proper treatment and referred to hospitals. Class
Advisers shall note the progress of each pupil for the entire duration of the
implementation of this program. The respective Principals shall submit a quarterly
progress report to the Division Superintendent. The Division Superintendent shall
submit the consolidated reports to the Child Nutrition Network.

Section 7. Role of the Department of Education (DepEd). - The
Department of Education shall be responsible for institutionalizing the Program in the
public education system, which will

(a) Provide free lunch meals to all public elementary and high school children;

(b) Ensure that the standard lunch meals meet the required nutritional level for
school pupils, in coordination with the NNC; and

(©) Put in place a system of effective sourcing, procurement and delivery of the
required raw materials and other necessary inputs.

Section 8. Role of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD). The DSWD shall identify the priority areas, in the provinces, cities and
municipalities where malnutrition rates are most severe, as may be determined by
the NNC. As such, the DSWD shall closely coordinate with the local government
units concerned regarding the identification of priority areas, implementation and
periodic monitoring of this program.

For the first two (2) years of the Program, the DSWD shall facilitate the
piloting of the Program using the National Household Targeting System For Poverty
Reduction


Section 9. Role of the Department of Agriculture (DA). - The Department
of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies shall identify and accredit farmers,
farmers’ organizations or farmer's cooperatives, who can supply good quality fresh
fruits, vegetables, milk, nutritious drinks and other healthy food and drinks.

The DA, as far as practicable, shall identify the farmers and farmers’
organizations from the locality where the feeding program is to be administered. The
farmers shall be chosen pursuant to a transparent and fair selection system, which
the Department of Agriculture shall design, promulgate, and implement. The DA shall
likewise provide technical assistance for a cost-effective vegetable and rice farming
within the school premises, whenever applicable. The Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR) shall provide technical assistance in the development of
cost-effective ways of raising fish resources that are available in the locality

Section 10. Role of the Department of Health (DOH). - The DOH shall
identify the fruits, vegetables, and other healthy food which are appropriate for the
feeding programs in the specified locality and shall recommend these to the DA for
purchasing. The DOH shall also enlist personnel or volunteers from the locality,
preferably from the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs)

With the assistance of the TESDA, the DOH shall provide technical
assistance in the training on the proper and healthy preparation, cooking, and, other
healthy practices in relation to the Programs

Section 11. Role of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG). - The DILG shall implement an effective monitoring system that will be
implemented through the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), and shall
institutionalize a fair and progressive system of compensation and incentives for the
BNS, which shall likewise be sourced from the funding of the national feeding
program in the public education system. The DILG shall issue memorandum
circulars which will institutionalize a subsidized funding scheme for the 5th and 6”
class municipalities and a national-local counter parting scheme for 3rd and 4th class.
municipalities.

Section 12. Role of the Local Government Units (LGUs). - The full
implementation of the objectives of this Act shall be with the partnership and
cooperation of the concerned LGU, which may also release counterpart funding or
provide other services should it deem necessary or available. This role is pursuant
to the enshrined principle in the Local Government Code that capabilities of local
government units shall be enhanced by providing them with opportunities to
participate actively in the implementation of national programs and projects.

Section 13. Private Sector Participation. - Private sector partnership is
encouraged in this Act. The private entity can in the form of their Corporate Social
Responsibility donate or adopt a school as a beneficiary of the Program in
cooperation with the concerned agencies identified in this Act or directly organized
and coordinated with the DepEd.


For purposes of this provision, the DepEd in coordination with the Department
of Finance and other relevant government agencies may provide in a guideline a
system of incentives including but not limited to creditable expenses in income tax,
or discount in business permits registration or other assistance.

Section 14. Appropriation. - The amount of Ten Billion pesos
(Php10,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the implementation of this
Program and shall be sourced from the proceeds of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes
Office (PCSO) and Philippine Gaming and Amusements Corporation (PAGCOR)
Initially, a substantial portion shall be sourced from the Social Fund of the Office or
the President

The funds shall be administered by the CNN.

Thereafter, such sum necessary for its continuous implementation shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act

All expenditure, disbursement of funds, and other activities made under the
Program shall be subject to existing government auditing and accounting rules and
regulations

Section. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The CNN shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this
Act, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act. Each of the member
national government agencies and instrumentalities shall likewise promulgate the
necessary internal memoranda, circulars and other order to institutionalize the
program within their respective offices, not later than the date to be determined by
the CNN

Section. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decreed and orders or parts
thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly. Nothing in this Act shall affect the existing food
programs being implemented by other government agencies.

Section. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved.