SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No.__5.125

Introduced by Representative Susan A. Yap

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under the Constitution “the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure
xxx an improved quality of life for all.”

To realize this mandate, this bill seeks to address malbutrition and hunger among children by
institutionalizing a Free Nutti-Meals Program to be known as the Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Progeam
for children in all public elementary schools and high schools.

Among the salient features of the bill are as follows:

1

Initially, school children in the elementary levels including kindergarten in public schools
shall be given free nutritious meals under the Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program.
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.

Due to administrative and resources limitations, public schools in ateas where severe
malnutrition are reported, armed conflict and highly congested shall be prioritized.

Private sector support is encouraged through their respective Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) activities or through simple donations to public schools.

A unified body composed of relevant government agencies is created for an integrated
approach in the meaningful implementation of the Prograrn.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

SUSAN A,
Representative, 2" D!


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No,__9125_

Introduced by Representative Susan A. Yap

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 THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be tt enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Shorr Title, ~ ‘This Act shall be known as the “Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino
Act of 2014”
SRC. 2. Declaration of Policy, ~ It is a declared policy of the State to 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 (© provide a government-united, practical, and feasible approach to address the issue of

malnutrition and hunger among school children in public elemeintary schools including kindergarten and

high schools through the institutionalization of the Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program (Free Nuti-

Meals for Pili

ino Children in Public Schools Program as cited in this Act or Program, for brevity).

SEC. 3. Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program (free Lunch for Filipino Children in Public Schools
Prgram). ~ ‘To improve the attendance, nutsition, health and academic performance of school children

in public elementary and high schools, a Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program (Free Nutri-Meals for

Filipino Children in Public Schools Program) is hereby institutionalized.
‘The Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Program is a nutrition-driven initiative and is a free nuttia-
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 ewenty (120) feeding
days,
The Program shall follow a 5-year full implementation phase. The Program shall be initially
implemented in all public elementary schools including kindergarten centers (Kindergarten to Grade VI,

following the K-12 Poliey).



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On the third year after the enactment of this Act, the Program shall be implemented in all public
clementary 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.

‘The schools located in areas or local governments where severe malnutition of where “severely
wasted” pupils as defined by existing government guidelines are reported, schools located in areas of
asmed conflict and schools located in highly congested teas shall be accorded prioritization in the
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 4. Child Nutrition Network. ~ There is hereby created a Child Nutrition Network (CNN), a
body that will implement the Program. It shall be composed of the Department of Education
epkid), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (OSWD), the Department of
Agriculture (DA), the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the Food and Nutrition Research Institute
(FNRI 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 Nutition

ation;

Framework, among others, will serve as blueprint containing the details of its implemen

reditation

integrated package of nutrition services; institutionalization of a system of qualification,

and the corresponding incentive

for private corporations; development of a data base of information,
kaowledge and best practices for nutrition programs; food and health aspects of school-based
implementation; monitoring progress report on children; participation of communities and civil society
and private-public sector partnership,

SEC. 5 Integrated Nutrition Education and Social Preparation. ~ The National
Lunch Program shall be complemented by public health and nutrition education campaign programs,
which aims to promote a holistic and integrated approach to health and nutrition education of school
pupils. For this puzpose, relevant and user-friendly nutrition information and education matetials shall
be developed and distributed in the public school, Orientation-training shall be held among DepEd

health and nutiition unit personnel at the regional and division levels, concerned local government



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representatives, and the parent-teacher association (PTAs), in order to orient them on the Progeam’s

objectives and mechanics and generate support for the Program.

SEC. 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 feeding
ptogram, and shall be conducted by cither the respective local Health Officer or Barangay Nuttition
Scholars (BNS). Children found with ailments shall be given proper treatment and referred to hospitals.
Class Advisers shall note that 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
Nuwition Network.

SEC. 7.Role of the Department of Education (DepEd). ~ Vhe Department of Education

shall be responsible for institutionalizing the standard lunch program in the public education system,
which will
4a) 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

©) Tastieute a system of effective sourcing, procurement and delivery of the required raw

mate

SEC. 8. Role of the Department of Social Wellare and Development (DSWD). ~ ‘the
DSWD shall identify the priority areas, in the cities and municipalities where malnutrition rates are most

seve

may be determined by the NNC. For the first two (2) years of the feeding progeam, the

DSWD shall facilitate the piloting of the program in the Conditional Cash Transfer (CC

areas,
SEC. 9.Role of the Department of Agriculture, ~The Department of Agriculture (OA) shall

identify and accredit farmers, farmers’ organizations or farmer's cooperatives, who can supply good

quality fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy food stuffs

‘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 in cost-effective vegetable and rice

farming within the school premises, whenever applicable. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic



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Resources (BEAR) shall provide technical assistance in the development of cost-effective ways raising

tilapia, and other fish resources that are available in the locality.

SEC 10. Role of the Department of Health (DOH) ~ ‘The DOH shall identify the fruits,

vegetables, and other healthy foods which ate appropriate for the feeding progeams in the specified
locality and shall recommend these to the DA for purchasing. ‘The DOH shall also procure personnel
or volunteets.from the locality, preferably from the Parent ‘Teacher Association (PTAs) and provide
‘echnical assistance in the training on the proper and healthy preparation, cooking and other healthy
practices in relation to the feeding programs,

SEC. 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
‘ncentives 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 citeulars which will

institutionalize a subsidized funding scheme for the 5" and 6” class municipalities and a national-local
counterparting scheme for 3" and 4" class municipalities.

SEC. 12, Private Sector Participation, ~ Private Sector partnership is encournged in this
Act. The private entity ean, in the form of their Corporate Social Responsibility, donate or adopt a
school as recipient of the Sustansiyang Batang Pilipino Program in cooperation with the concerned

agencies identified in this Act or directly organized and coordinated with the DepEd.

For purpose 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

ance,

SEC. 13, Appropriation ~The amount of Ten Billion (Php 10,000,000,000.00) is hereby
appropriated for the implementation of this Program and shall be sourced from the proceeds of
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Gaming and Amusements Corporation. Initially,
4 substantial portion shall be sourced from the Social Fund of the Office of the President.

‘The funds shall be administered by the Child Nutrition Network (CNN).

Thereafter, such sum necessary for its continuous implementation shall be included in the

annual General Appropriations Act,



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All expenditures, disbursement of funds and other activities made under the program shall be
subject to existing government auditing and accounting rules and regulations
SEC, 14 Implementing Rules and Regulations ~ The Child Nutrition Network (CNN) shall

promulgate the necessary rules and regulations implementing the provisions of his 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 determined
by the CNN.

SE

2. 15. 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
Acc shall affect the existing food programs being implemented by other government agencies.

SEC. 16 Effectivity ~ This Act shall rake effect fiftecn (15) days following its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least ewo (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever
comes earlier

Approved,