Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session _

House Bill No.8 997

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the Center for Disease Control, folic acid "is an important part of
preconception health, which refers to the health of women and men during their reproductive
years. If a woman consumes the recommended amount of folic acid before and during early
pregnancy, it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby’s brain (known as
anencephaly) and spine (known as spina bifida)."" Consistent with the mandate of the
Constitution to safeguard the lives and well-being of mothers and children, a refiling of HB
762 of former DIWA Party-list Rep. Emmeline Villar, seeks to increase awareness with
regard to the benefits of folic acid.

PRPITO M. PICO
Representative, DIWA Party-list

+ http://www.cdc.gov/features/folicacidbenefits/ [Accessed 9 May 2016]
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session
8597

House Bill No.

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT TO PROVIDE A NATIONAL FOLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM TO
PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic 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. Promotion of the Beneficial Effects of Folic Acid in the Prevention
of Birth Defects. - The Department of Health shall carry out a program, directly or through
special arrangements with other government agencies and other promotional entities engaged
in public information activities, 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 to encourage women of reproductive capacity to consume the appropriate amount
of folic acid as a dietary supplement on a daily basis.

Pursuant thereto, the Secretary of Health may consult with the appropriate public or
private entities, including national nonprofit and nongovernment organizations, health
professionals and health insurance and health plan providers, to ensure the success of such
education and training program. In addition, the Secretary shall, directly or through
partnership with other sectors, provide technical assistance to public and nonprofit private
organizations to fulfill the mandate provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof.

SECTION 3. Continuing Research and Study on the Effects of Folic Acid. ~ The
Department of Health shall conduct continuing studies on the effects of folic acid to increase
the understanding of the same on the health of the citizenry, especially its contribution to the

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prevention of birth defects, cleft lip and palate, and heart defects. It shall likewise 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. In
addition, it shall provide for appropriate epidemiological activities regarding folic acid, birth
defects and neural tube defects,

SECTION 4. Evaluation of Program Implementation. — The Secretary of Health
shall cause the review of the program to evaluate the extent to which the activities carried
out, pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 hereof, have been effective in fulfilling the goals of the
program, including their effect on different sectors of the population. Methods of evaluation
to be undertaken pursuant thereto may include surveys of knowledge and attitudes on the
consumption of folic acid and on blood folate levels, and the complete and timely monitoring
of infants Who are born With neural tube defects,

SECTION S. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's program the
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected thereby
shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. 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,

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,

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