SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
^eiwte
o( ihe C if 'r f tir /
'16 
DEC -1  
A10:32
u
SENATE
S.B. No. 1257
KCEIVEO g\f
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In tro d u ced  by SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT TO PROTECT FILIPINO PREGNANT AND LACTATING MOTHERS, 
INFANTS, AND YOUNG CHILDREN DURING THE FIRST 1000 DAYS OF 
LIFE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Explanatory Note
The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life, from pregnancy until the child’s 2nd 
birthday, 
is 
the 
foundation 
of a 
person’s 
future 
health, 
intellectual 
development, and m otor and social skills. Good nutrition for m others and 
babies at pregnancy and infancy stage is therefore crucial to sustain a sturdy 
foundation for a child’s well being.
However, World Health Organization (WHO) shows th at the leading causes of 
death worldwide of over 5.9 million children under 5 years old in 2015 were 
linked to m alnutrition. The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the 
D epartm ent of Science and Technology (DOST) reported that the country has 
now reached its highest rate of chronic m alnutrition in 10 years among 
children aged 0-2, which is at 26.2%.
Meanwhile, achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aim s to reduce 
global m aternal mortality rate to less than 70 per 100,000 births, rem ains a 
great task for the nation as World Bank reported that m ortality ratio was 114 
per 100,000 birth in 2015. The sam e report provides that globally, about 800 
women die everyday due to pregnancy-related complications.
This bill seeks to establish a strategic and sustainable strategy to address the 
crisis in m alnutrition am ong children and women in prenatal and newborn 
care. Health and nutrition program s in every barangay shall be established, 
along with the strengthening of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) as the 
policy-making body in nutrition to secure the im plem entation of program s to 
protect m others and their infants.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
)REN LEGARDA
Senator


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
, n ' 
of tljf t^^crrlar/
*16 
OEC-1 
AlO '32
SENATE
S.B. No. 
O /
•Eaivtor.:
In tro d u ced  by SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT TO PROTECT FILIPINO PREGNANT AND LACTATING MOTHERS, 
INFANTS, AND YOUNG CHILDREN DURING THE FIRST 1000 DAYS OF 
LIFE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assem bled:
SECTION 1. T itle. -  This Act shall be known as the “First 1,000 Days Act.”
Sec. 2. D eclaration o f Policy. - The right to health is a fundam ental principle 
guaranteed by the State as m andated in Section 15, Article 2, of the 1987 
C onstitution, m andating that "The State shall protect and promote the right to 
health of the people and instill health consciousness am ong them."
Moreover, p u rsu an t to various international hum an rights instrum ents and 
agreem ents that the State adheres to, the State guarantees the right to 
adequate food, care and nutrition to children, especially those from zero to five- 
years old.
The advancem ent and protection of the right of men and women to access 
all 
information 
necessary 
to m ake 
informed choice on the proper care, 
nutrition and food choices for their children and family shall be central to 
the 
efforts 
of the 
State 
to 
comprehensively 
and 
sustainably address 
m alnutrition.
The State likewise declares its determ ination to elim inate hunger and to reduce 
all forms of m alnutrition. The State further m aintains th at nutrition is both an 
end-goal and a m eans to achieve sustained development. It is a multi-faceted 
issue requiring committed inputs from all sectors. As such, nutrition shall be 
a priority of the governm ent 
to be implemented 
by all its 
branches 
in 
collaboration with non- governm ent organizations and the private sector, in 
an integrated m anner.
The State furtherm ore allocates its resources in a sustainable m anner thereby 
eradicating m alnutrition of women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and 
children from 0 to 24 m onths.
The State finally refocuses the intervention program  on m alnutrition to the first 
1,000 days of a child's life, i.e. the nine m onths in the womb and the first 24 
m onths of h is/h er life which are crucial in preventing m alnutrition.


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Sec. 3. O bjectives. - This Act specifically aim s to:
(a) Provide a 
more comprehensive, sustainable and 
m ulti-sectoral 
approach to address m alnutrition;
(b) Provide a policy environm ent conducive to nutrition improvement;
(c) Provide 
m echanism s, strategies 
and 
approaches in implementing 
program s and 
projects to improve nutritional status and to eradicate 
m alnutrition and hunger;
(d) Strengthen the National Nutrition Council (NNC) as the policy-making 
body on nutrition; and
(e) Ensure 
the m eaningful and active participation, partnership and 
cooperation of NNC-member agencies, other 
National Government 
Agencies (NGAs), Local Government 
Units 
(LGUs), 
Non-Government 
Organizations (NGOs), and 
the private sector, in an integrated 
and 
holistic m anner, for the promotion of the nutritional well-being of the 
population.
SEC.4. C om prehensive A nti-M alnutrition Program . 
-  
There shall be a 
comprehensive and sustainable program to address m alnutrition in the 
country to be formulated by the National Nutrition Council, in cooperation 
with other governm ent agencies, local 
government units, 
the 
private 
sector relevant 
civil 
society organizations and industry, within three (3) 
m onths from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 5. Coverage and P hases o f th e Program . - This Act covers all 
Filipinos who are nutritionally at risk, with specific focus on women of 
reproductive 
age, pregnant 
women, 
lactating 
m others, 
particularly 
teenage m others, and all Filipino children ages zero to two (2) years 
old 
that 
reside 
in 
nutritionally-poor 
areas identified by the Food and 
Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).
The 
Comprehensive Anti-M alnutrition 
Program, 
hereinafter 
cited 
as 
CAMP, shall be implemented in two phases. 
The first phase which will be 
implemented in the first three years of the program, will cover areas 
identified by the FNRI as having the most num ber of nutritionally at risk 
populations. The second phase, which will be implemented in the succeeding 
three years of the program, shall be implemented in the fourth to sixth class 
m unicipalities in the country.
Sec. 6. T ypes and 
D efinition of M alnutrition.
m alnutrition are hereby defined:
The following types of
a) Low birth weight refers to weight at birth of less than 2500 gram s 
or 5.5 pounds;
b) Underweight refers to low weight-for-age which is less than negative 
two (2) standard deviations (SO) of the WHO Child Growth Standard 
median;
c) Stunting refers to low height-for-age which is less than negative 2 SO of 
the WHO Child Growth Standard m edian and which is an indicator of 
long standing or chronic m alnutrition;


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d) W asting refers to low weight-for-height which is less than negative 2 SO 
of the WHO Child Growth Standard median.
e) Overweight refers to weight above norm al for height, which is greater 
than positive 2 standard deviations (SD) of the WHO Child Growth 
Standard median;
Sec. 7. Coverage. - This Act covers all Filipinos who are nutritionally at risk, 
with specific focus on women of reproductive age, pregnant and lactating 
women, particularly teen-age m others, and all Filipino children from birth to 
ages zero to two (2) years old that reside in Geographically Isolated and 
Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), i.e. areas that are isolated due 
to distance, 
weather 
conditions 
and transportation, have high incidences of poverty, 
presence of vulnerable sector, com m unities in or recovering from situation of 
crisis or arm ed conflict and 
recognized as such by the Food and Nutrition 
Research Institute (FNRI).
SEC. 8. T arget. — The CAMP shall target to reduce the prevalence rate 
of underweight children from 0 to 5 years of age by 10 percent in five (5) 
years.
SEC. 9. S hared R esponsibility. - Couples m ust share responsibility in 
providing care, health, and nutrition to children, according to their religious 
and cultural beliefs. Provided, that such beliefs are not detrim ental to the 
over-all well being of their children.
SEC. 10. B reastfeeding and th e  M other's R ight to Inform ed C h o ice .-
C onsistent with Republic Act No. 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding 
Promotion Act of 2009, the 
State 
shall 
provide 
adequate 
information 
and 
com m unication 
m aterials 
to promote breastfeeding and all forms of 
nutritious food and supplem ent to ensure every Filipino child's optimal 
nutrition.
However, in cases when the m other is unable to breastfeed for various 
reasons, and consistent with international hum an rights instrum ents that 
the State has adhered to which guarantees the right to information and 
informed choice, the m other has the 
right 
to access 
all 
available
information on and to choose from among the many options of feeding her 
child and should not be m ade inferior if she chose to opt for the latter.
SEC. 11. Philippine Plan of A ction for N utrition (PPAN) and S trategies.
-  The PPAN is the integrated short, medium and long-term plan of the 
government 
in response to the global call to eradicate h u nger and 
m alnutrition. It is the b lueprint for achieving nutrition adequacy for all as 
an 
im p o rtan t 
elem ent 
for 
international 
com petitiveness, 
people 
em pow erm ent and h u m an  developm ent.
The PPAN aim s to reduce prevalence of protein-energy m alnutrition. Vitamin 
A deficiency, iron deficiency anem ia and iodine deficiency disorders.
The PPAN shall employ a twin strategy: promotion of household food 
security; and the 
prevention, 
control 
and elimination 
of m icro-nutrient 
m alnutrition. It 
shall involve 
short, 
medium, 
and 
long-term 
interventions 
to 
address 
hunger 
and m alnutrition. Further, programs to 
ensure 
household 
food 
security 
through availability and accessibility of


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safe and nutritious foods shall be encouraged.
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SEC. 12. The N ational N utrition Council. - The National Nutrition Council 
(NNC), composed of a Governing Board and a Secretariat, is the highest policy 
m aking 
body 
on 
nutrition. 
It 
coordinates 
the 
formulation 
and 
the 
im plem entation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). It shall 
provide 
overall 
direction 
for 
the 
nutrition 
plans 
and 
program s 
and 
coordinate all others agencies which contribute resources and expertise for 
nutrition development.
Due to the urgent need to address m alnutrition, and in order to increase 
its efficiency 
and 
effectiveness, 
the 
NNC 
is hereby 
transferred 
to the 
Office of the President (OP) immediately upon the effectivity of this Act.
The composition of the NNC Governing Board is hereby am ended and 
further expanded:
I. 
The G overning B oard. -  The G overning Board (GB) shall be 
com posed of the following:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e. 
f
g-
h.
k.
President of the Philippines, as Chairperson;
Secretary of Agriculture;
Secretary of the D epartm ent of Social Welfare and Development; 
Secretary of the D epartm ent of Health;
Secretary of the D epartm ent of Education;
Secretary of the Departm ent of Science and Technology;
Secretary of the Departm ent of Budget and Management;
D epartm ent of Trade and Industry;
Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women;
Presidents of the League of Cities, League of Municipalities, League 
of Provinces;
Three representatives from the private sector to be appointed by the 
President of the Philippines shall each come from the food and 
nutrition industry, and women.
The Board shall create a Technical Committee or such other committee of 
experts as it may deem necessary to act as the Council's advisory body on 
policy and program m atters.
The Secretariat shall serve as the Executive arm  of the Governing Board. It 
shall 
be 
headed 
by 
an 
Executive 
Director, 
assisted 
by 
two 
Deputy 
E.xecutive Directors, all of whom shall be appointed by the President.
SEC. 13. F u n ctio n s and Pow ers
the following functions and powers:
of th e NNC. - The Council shall have
(a) 
Form ulate 
national 
nutrition 
policies, 
plans, 
strategies 
and 
approaches
for nutrition improvement;
(b) Oversee 
and 
serve 
as 
a 
focal 
point 
in 
the 
integration 
of 
nutrition 
policies 
and 
program s 
of 
all 
m em ber 
agencies 
and 
instrum entalities charged with the im plem entation of existing laws, 
policies, rules and regulations concerning nutrition;


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(c) 
Coordinate, m onitor and evaluate program s and projects of both 
public
and private sectors as well as of LGUs in order to insure integration of 
nutrition with national policies;
(d) 
Receive grants, donations and contributions 
in any form from 
foreign governm ents, private institutions and other funding entities for 
nutrition program s and projects: Provided, That no conditions shall be 
m ade contrary to the policies or provisions of this Act;
(e) 
Coordinate 
the release 
of public funds for the promotion of 
nutrition well-being of the country in accordance with the approved 
program s and projects; and
(f) Call upon any government agency and instrum entalities comprising 
the pillars of the executive system for such assistance as may be 
required to im plem ent the provisions of this Act in order to reduce and 
eventually elim inate m alnutrition in the country.
SEC. 14. Role of NNC -M em ber A gencies, o th er N ational G overnm ent 
A gencies, Local G overnm ent U nits, and th e Private S ector in th e 
im p lem en tatio n  of th is Act. - Member agencies shall be responsible for 
insuring the im plem entation of program s and projects, development of 
promotive, preventive and curative nutrition program s, and integration 
of 
health 
and nutrition 
concerns into their respective 
policies and plans. It 
shall provide additional resources in any form in support of the local 
nutrition program s as a continuing involvement of the national government to 
local program s.
The 
consortium  
of 
Slate 
Universities 
and 
Colleges 
(SUCs) 
shall 
intensify
nutrition 
related 
training, 
research 
and 
extension 
support 
activities 
through 
the Barangay 
Integrated 
Development 
Approach 
for 
Nutrition 
Improvement (BIDANI) Network 
Program 
of the 
Rural 
Poor and 
other 
relevant approaches, 
thereby strengthening delivery system s in partnership 
with the LGUs.
Local Government 
Units (LGUs), pursuant to the Local Government 
Code 
of 1991, 
shall 
provide 
and 
deliver 
basic 
nutrition 
services 
and 
facilities 
to 
the comm unity. 
The 
LGUs 
shall 
integrate 
nutrition 
considerations in their short, medium and 
long-term 
development 
plans, 
and program s and shall coordinate with the Council in the enforcement 
of this Act. The State 
shall provide incentives 
to the LGUs for projects 
targeting young children. 
Other National Government Agencies (NGAs) shall 
serve as im portant links in promoting nutrition in development through its 
participation 
in the 
continuing 
advocacy 
for 
nutritional 
improvement, 
and integration of nutrition considerations in their sectoral plans and 
program s.
Non-Government 
Organizations 
(NGOs) 
shall 
be 
encouraged 
to 
undertake nutrition related researches and to recommend procedures and 
guidelines promotive of good nutrition among employees of agencies or 
m em bers of NGOs.


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The Private Sector shall also be encouraged to provide technical and 
financial assistance to com m unity-based 
nutrition projects through their 
corporate 
social responsibility program s, as their participation in the 
country's bid to enhance hum an capital formation.
SEC. 
15. 
R em u n eratio n  
and 
Skills 
T raining 
for 
B arangay 
H ealth 
W orkers a n d  B arangay N utrition Scholars. -LGUs are m andated to provide 
adequate honoraria to Barangay 
Nutrition Scholars 
(BNS) 
and Barangay 
Health Workers (BHWs). They shall likewise endeavor to provide sustained 
capability building skills to BNS and BHWs in support of local nutrition 
program s.
The DOH shall be responsible for dissem inating all information necessary 
and providing 
training 
program s 
to the LGUs' 
nutrition programs. 
The 
LGUs, with the technical assistance of the DOH, shall be responsible for the 
training of BHWs and BNS and other barangay volunteers on nutrition 
promotion.
The national government 
shall provide additional and necessary funding 
and other necessary assistance for the effective im plem entation of this Act.
SEC. 16. N utrition in th e A fterm ath of N atural D isasters and C alam ities.
-  Areas that are struck by disasters m ust be prioritized in the delivery of 
nutrition program s.
National, regional, and local governm ents are m andated to immediately 
provide emergency 
food 
supplies 
for 
proper 
nourishm ent 
of lactating 
m others and children, specifically those from zero to two (2) years old.
Private 
sector 
donations 
in 
emergency 
situations 
shall 
be 
allowed 
immediately in the afterm ath of natural disasters and calamities. The 
National 
Disaster 
Risk Reduction 
M anagement 
Council 
(NDRMMC) 
is 
hereby m andated to form ulate guidelines in pursuit of this Section.
National and local disaster risk reduction and m anagem ent councils are 
hereby enjoined to involve women in the decision m aking process, allowing 
them to take part in implementing disaster preparedness, recovery and 
rehabilitation program s.
SEC. 17. Teen-Age M others and L actating W omen. - LGUs shall endeavor 
to m onitor teen-age m others and lactating women from poor households. 
Access to nutrition by these nutritionally at risk populations 
m ust at all 
tim es be ensured by health centers and barangay officials.
SEC. 18. A ppropriations. — An 
initial 
sum  
of 
100 
Million 
Pesos (PhP 100,000,000) 
is hereby appropriated for this Act in support of 
locally initiated nutrition programs; Thereafter, 
an 
appropriation 
for 
this 
Act shall be provided annually in the General Appropriations Act.
LGUs which have been identified 
by the FNRI as among those that 
have
populations 
that are nutritionally 
at risk, will 
supplem ent 
the funds 
necessary for the im plem entation 
of this 
Act 
through 
a 
m andatory 
allocation of at least five percent 
(5%) of their Internal Revenue Allotment 
for 
m alnutrition 
reduction: 
Provided 
That, 
the 
Local 
Gender 
and
Development 
Budget 
shall likewise 
be utilized 
for nutrition program s


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p u rsu an t to the nutrition standard prom ulgated by the NNC on local 
feeding program s.
The funds needed by the NNC to carry out the provisions of this Act shall 
be charged to the appropriations of the NNC under the annual General 
A ppropriations 
Act 
in 
addition 
to 
the 
appropriations 
of 
other 
departm ent/agencies 
whose program s and activities are in support of the 
PPAN and this Act: Provided That, no public fund shall be used for feeding 
program s that will be implemented for less than 120 days continuously.
Funds needed by 
SUCs 
in 
implementing BlDANl and 
other 
nutrition 
approaches shall be incorporated in the annual appropriation of S U C s.
SEC. 19. Review an d  S u n set Clause. -  Six years after the effectivity of this 
Act and every three years thereafter, the NNC shall conduct a review of the 
nutrition statu s of the country and 
shall m ake a determ ination 
if 
international standards have been complied with.
In the event the standards have not been met upon expiry of this Act, 
Congress shall reauthorize this Act for such period as may be necessary to 
comply with the international standards set on m alnutrition.
SEC. 20. S eparability C lause. - 
If any provision of this Act or the 
application 
of such 
provision 
to 
any 
instrum entalities or entities 
or 
circum stances is held invalid or unconstitutional 
for 
any 
reason 
or 
reasons. The rem ainder 
of this Act 
or the application of such other 
provisions shall not be affected thereby.
SEC. 21. R epealing C lause. - 
All laws 
and part of laws, 
decrees, orders, 
proclam ations, 
issuance, 
rules 
and regulations 
which 
are inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, am ended or modified 
accordingly.
SEC. 22. E ffectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers 
of general circulation whichever comes earlier.
Approved,