FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 11 '72 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. 
Thousands of infants each year are born with serious birth defects of the 
brain and spine, called neural tube defects. The most common of these are spin 
bifida, the incomplete closure qf the spinal column and anencephaly, a fatal 
condition in which an infant is born with a severely underdeveloped brain and 
skull. 
Studies in the United States show that as many as 70 percent of neural 
tube birth defects could be prevented if all women of childbearing age consume 
400 micrograms of folic acid daily, beginning before pregnancy. Folic acid is a B 
vitamin found naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, bean, citrus 
fruits, and juices and in certain multivitamins capsules. 
Unfortunately, a majority of women are neither aware of this prevention 
opportunity, nor consuming the recommended daily amount. 
Hence this bill seeks to provide a national folic acid education campaign to 
urge women to take the simple step to prevent neural tube defects. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Hi! 
JUL 12 Jl\9 ~ 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1;1 '{ 2 RECEIVED BY:.+- .. 
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Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL FOLIC ACID EDUCATION PROGRAM TO 
PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short title - This Act shall be known as the "Folic Acid 
Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act." 
SECTION 2. Program regarding effects of folic acid in prevention of birth 
defects-
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(a) IN GENERAL - The Secretary of Health shall carry out a program (directly or 
through grants or contracts) for the following purposes: 
(1) 
To provide education and training for health professionals and the 
general public for purposes of explaining the effects of folic acid in 
preventing birth defects and for purposes of encouraging each 
woman of reproductive capacity (whether or not planning a 
pregnancy) to consume on a daily basis a dietary supplement that 
provides an appropriate level of folic acid. 
(2) 
To conduct research with respect to such education and training, 
including identifying effective strategies for increasing the rate of 
consumption of folic acid by women of reproductive capacity. 
(3) 
To conduct research to increase the understanding of the effects of 
folic acid in preventing birth defects, including understanding with 
respect to cleft lip, cleft palate, and heart defects. 
(4) 
To provide for appropriate epidemiological activities regarding folic 
acid and birth defects, including epidemiological activities regarding 
neural tube defects. 
(b) CONSULTATIONS WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES - In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall consult with appropriate public or private entities, 
including national nonprofit private organizations, health professionals, and 
providers of health insurance and health plans. 
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(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - The Secretary may (directly or through grants or 
contracts) provide technical assistance to public and nonprofit private entities in 
carrying out the activities described in subsection (a). 
(d) EVALUATIONS - The Secretary shall (directly or through grants or contracts) 
provide for the evaluation of activities under subsection (a) in order to determine 
the extent to which such activities have been effective in carrying out the 
purposes of the program under such subsection, including the effects on various 
demographic populations. Methods of evaluation under the preceding sentence 
may include surveys of knowledge and attitudes on the consumption of folic acid 
and on blood folate levels. Such methods may include complete and timely 
monitoring of infants who are born with neural tube defects. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS - There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act. 
SECTION 3. 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 4. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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