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SEVENTEENTHCONGRESS __) DATE:
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) TIME: oa
Second Regular Session )
BY: 4
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill No. 6873

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15 of Article 2 of the Constitution provides that, “The State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instil health consciousness among them.”

‘One of the major components of providing effective health services is the
dissemination of relevant and accurate information on nutrition. However, the relationship
between nutrition and health is often overlooked which results to less attention and
importance given to research and creation of database on nutrition. Moreover, multitude
sources of information which are often not in congruence with one another cause confusion
among the public.

This measure seeks to create a permanent Council on Nutrition and Health under the
Department of Health. The said Council shall focus its efforts on consolidating and
monitoring research and information on nutrition that will be made readily available to the
public. This will not only provide our people with the sound information on nutrition and its
importance to our general health but will also encourage more endeavors towards research
and development on these fields.

Immediate approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

W

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
‘Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 68'73

AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH A PERMANENT COUNCIL ON
NUTRITION AND HEALTH

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 “Nutrition and Health Act’.

SEC 2. Purpose. - The purpose of this Act is to establish within the Department of Health a
Council on Nutrition and Health that will assemble the existing information on the relationship
between nutrition and human health, monitor the progress of ongoing research, identify the
aspects of the relationship between nutrition and health that require additional research,
maintain the base of information in an understandable and retrievable fashion, and serve as
a clearinghouse for information on the relationship between nutrition and human health.

‘SEC 3. Definition. - As used in this Act -
1. “Council” means the Council on Nutrition and Health, as established in Section
(a) of this Act.
2. “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health

SEC 4, Establishment and Staffing of the Council on Nutrition. —
(a) Establishment — The Council on Nutrition and Health is hereby established within
the Department of Health
(b) Membership —

(1) Appointment - The Council shall consist of nine (9) voting members, all of
whom shail be appointed by the President.

(2) Eligibility for Membership — The members of the Council shall be chosen
from among individuals who are knowledgeable in the fields of health,
human nutrition, food production and distribution, and agriculture. Such
members shall be selected solely on the basis of an established record of
distinguished service in the areas of expertise of such individuals,

(3) Ex-Officio Members — The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall
be ex-officio members of the Council.

(c) Term of Office —

(1) In General — Each member of the Council shall be appointed for a term of
three (3) years, except that members appointed to the initial Council shall
serve, proportionately, for terms of one (1), two (2) and three (3) years, as
determined by the Secretary at the time of appointment.

(2) Vacancy — A member of the Council who is appointed to fill a vacancy in the
Council occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the
predecessor of such member was appointed, shall be appointed pursuant to
subsection (b)(1) only for the remainder of the term of his predecessor.


(3) Expiration of Term — A member of the Council may serve after the expiration
of the term of office of such member until the successor for such member
has taken his oath and assumed office.

(4) Eligibility for Successive Terms — A member of the Council shall be eligible
to serve successive terms of office.

(4) Leadership of Council —

(1) Selection — A Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson of the Council shall be
selected by the President from among the members of the Council

(2) Term of Office - The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Council, as
referred to in paragraph (1), shall serve for a term of three (3) years.

(€) Meetings of the Council ~

(1) Frequency of Meetings - The Chairperson of the Council, as referred to in
subsection (d), shall convene a meeting of the Council not less than once
during each three-month period.

(2) Quorum — At a property convened meeting of the Council, the presence of
five (5) Council members shall constitute a quorum.

(f) Compensation — A member of the Council shall be paid or reimbursed for travel to
and from the place of service of such member and for other expenses associated
with the responsibilities as a member of the Council

(g) Staff - The staff of the Council shall be permanent employees of the Department of
Health of such rank, grade, and function as considered to be appropriate by the
Secretary

SEC 5. Responsibilities of the Council. —
(A) In General - The Council shall —

(1) assemble the existing information on the relationship between nutrition and
health;

(2) identify and collect the ongoing research within the various national and local
governmental agencies, the private sector in the country, and in foreign
countries;

(3) identify the aspects of the relationship between nutrition and health that
require additional research;

(4) monitor ongoing research into the role of nutrition in health, including —

(a) methods by which the nutritional value of domestically-produced food
products may be improved;

(b) the relationship between the consumption of specific foods and
nutrients and the incidence and treatment of specific diseases and
conditions; and,

(©) the optimal level of foods and nutrients that are appropriate under
various health conditions to maximize specific human capabilities;

(8) monitor the progress of nutrition education efforts among the health
profession, other segments of the society, and the general public; and

(6) maintain an understandable and retrievable database of existing scientific
information on the relationship of nutrition and health and serve as a
clearinghouse for such information.

(8) Rules and Regulations — The Council is authorized to adopt such rules and
regulations as maybe necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC 6. Responsibility of other Agencies to Cooperate with the Council. — Each agency and
private entity that is performing nutrition research that is completely or partially funded by
appropriated funds shall cooperate with the Council by informing the Council of the research
‘of such agency or entity, and by filing a copy of the final report of the product of such
research with the Council.


SEC 7. Treatment of information on File. — Submission of information or date on the
relationship between nutrition and health to the Council shall not affect statutory law
trademark status, copyright, or patent rights.

SEC 8. Reports. -
(@) In General — Not later than December 31 of each year, the Council shall submit a
report to the Secretary on the progress of its work and any areas of suggested

research into the relationship between nutrition and health.

(b) Distribution — Following the receipt by the Secretary of the annual report of the
Council under subsection (a), the Secretary shall immediately distribute such
report, along with recommendations of the Secretary regarding such report, to
the President, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the appropriate commitiees of
the Congress as well as to such other agencies and departments as the
Secretary considers appropriate.

‘SEC 9. Authorization of Appropriations. — The appropriation from the National Treasury of
such sums that may be necessary to carry out this Act is hereby authorized.

SEC 10. 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.

SEC 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

‘SEC 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,