" 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN1l253 
S. No. -----'-
(2 
__________________ 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is indisputable that the country's economic productivity is considerably affected by 
the health status of its labor force. In the same vein, the learning capacities of students including 
their acquisition of knowledge and skills that are essential in the productioh of goods and 
services are likewise greatly influenced by the health condition ofthe learners. 
Thus, the Constitution under section 15 of Article II mandates the State "to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them." The 
injunction aims to develop an integrated, responsive and efficacious health care system that can 
enhance national development. 
It is urgent that health consciousness be instilled among Filipinos. Needless to stress, 
the school plays a vital role in making the people aware of the importance of health care. Toward 
this end, government commits to "fully integrate our health care system with the school system, 
with preventive health care, personal hygiene, and nutrition education being pursued as active 
programs in basic education." To make this possible, this bill seeks to modernize and upgrade 
the School Health and Nutrition Program (SHNP) of the Department of Education, which is 
designed to promote, protect and maintain the health and nutritional well-being of the various 
sectors of elementary and secondary educational institutions, to maximize its contribution tp 
quality basic education. 
, 


This is a Senate counterpart bill to one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. 
Edcel C. Lagman: 
• This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, First Regular Session 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENAW 
S.No. 
~~53 
1 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH AND NUTRITION 
3 
PROGRAM (SHNP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS, 
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AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall he !mown as the "School Health and 
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Nutrition Modernization Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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promote, maintain and protect the health and nutritional well-being of the school popUlation 
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through the delivery of preventive health care to the students, teachers and school administrators 
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in the elementary and high school levels and to the non-teaching personnel. Toward this end, the 
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School Health and Nutrition Program of the Department of Education, shall be modernized and 
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upgraded to ensure the attainment of a health status that can enhance the active learning 
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capacities of the children and for the teachers and other personnel to function more effectively, 
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thus, enabling the achievement ofthe goals of quality basic education. 
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It is likewise declared the policy of the State to pursue the modernization program 
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under this Act,through: 
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(A)'The development of an efficient and effective health care delivery system in the 
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schools; 
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(B) The development, evaluation and application of appropriate methods and procedures 
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in preventive health care; 
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(C) The development of reforms in the management of human and material resources; 
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and 


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(D) The acquisition and upgrading of appropriate equipment and technology. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -For the purposes ofthis Act, the term: 
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(A) "Department" means the Department of Education. 
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(B) "School Health and Nutrition Program" (SHNP) means a comprehensive education 
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and service package, delivered to the schools, eventually to the homes and communities, 
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in order to improve the health and nutritional status of the total school population, with 
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the elementary grades children as its priority group. 
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(C) "Public Health" means the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life, 
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and promoting physical and mental health and efficiency through organized community 
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efforts. 
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(D) "Preventive Health Care" means the systematic organization of all the personal 
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services necessary to prevent disease and attain the highest level of health. 
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(E) "Health and Nutrition Center" means the agency that takes charge of the overall 
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management of the integrated SHNP. 
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(F) "Basic Education" means the SIX years elementary and four years secondary 
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education. Basic education is that which brings the child to a point where he can be an 
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autonomous learner, one who is self-reliant and creative. 
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(G) "Health Education" means the teaching and counseling on healthy living, including 
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hygiene, nutrition, sex education, alcohol and drug abuse, smoking and other threats to 
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health. 
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(H) "Quality Education" means the appropriateness, relevance and excellence of the 
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education given to the individual in meeting hislher needs and aspirations and those of 
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society. 
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SECTION 4. Objectives of the SHNP. - The SHNP modernization shall be implemented 
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in accordance with the following objectives: 
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(A) To'provide a comprehensive preventive health care to school children and teachers in 
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the .elementary and secondary levels of education and to the non-teaching personnel of 
3 
the Department; 
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(B) To inculcate health and nutrition values and behavior and encourage healthy lifestyles 
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among the school populace; 
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(C) To encourage parents to provide their children with proper health care and to perfonn 
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effective parenting to prevent drug abuse; 
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(D) To develop effective linkages between the school and community for better school 
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health; 
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(E) To strengthen the Health and Nutrition Center in the management of the Program; 
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and 
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(F) To establish and maintain adequate health and sanitation facilities like school clinics, 
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canteens, water supply, sanitary toilets and garbage disposal in the schools. 
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SECTION 5. Components of the SHNP Modernization. - The modernization program 
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shall consist of the following components: 
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(A) Organizational Development. - To carry out effectively their functions, it is necessary 
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to restructure, expand and upgrade the staff and personnel of the Regional Health and 
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Nutriti~n Units and the Division Health and Nutrition Sections including the creation of 
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nurse supervisor positions to oversee nursing care of the school children: Provided, That 
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in the upgrading of plantilla positions, the compensation and benefits shall he at par with 
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those of health and nutrition personnel in other government agencies in accordance with 
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existing laws, rules and regulations. 
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(B) Human Resources Development. - This component pertains to programs and 
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educational activities of health and nutrition personnel to enhance their skills and 
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competencies through workshops, conferences and in-service trainings relative to the 
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delivery of health care, and on mobilization as well as administrative responsibilities. 
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• 
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A continuing health resource development program shall he implemented. 
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(C) Infrastructure Development. - This component consists of the construction of 
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physical plants and facilities such as sanitary toilets, facilities for washing hands, water 
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system, school clinics and feeding centers/canteens in the public elementary schools to 
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ensure health and nutritional needs in public elementary schools including suitable sites 
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for the Alay-Tanim Tree Planting program. 
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(D) Information and Systems Organization. - This component consists of the acquisition 
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and development of an extensive computer network for health and nutrition care; the 
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upgra<;ling of methods and procedures in preventive health care; monitoring and 
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evaluation; and research in support of the total program. 
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The Department Secretary in coordination with the Secretary of Health shall formulate 
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guidelines to implement this section in accordance with the objectives of the 
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modernization program enumerated in the preceding section. 
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SECTION 6. Priority Programs for SHNP Modernization. - For a more effective 
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implementation of the objectives of the SHNP and consistent with the mandate of the 
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Constitution relative to health care, the following programs/activities shall be given priority 
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consideration: 
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(A) Recruitment of school health and nutrition personnel to attain the ratio of one (1) 
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personnel to two thousand (2,000) pupils/teachers over a five (5) year period; 
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(8) Upgrading of the salary of health and nutrition personnel to be at par with 
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counterparts in other Departments and full implementation of the benefits of the Magna 
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Carta for Public Health Workers; 
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(C) Provision of equipment, medical and dental supplies and medicines; 
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(D) Health examination of all Grade 1 entrants and provision of supplementary feeding 
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(breakfast and/or milk) to Grade 1 pupils and nutritionally deprived school children; 
3 


• 
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SECTION 7. Period of Implementation. - The Modernization Program under this Act 
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shall be implemented over a period of five (5) years from the year this Act is promulgated. 
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SECTION 8. Appropriations. - To effectively carry out the objectives of this Act, the 
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initial amount of Two Hundred Million Pesos (P200,OOO,OOO.OO) is hereby authorized to be 
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appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and from the 
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funds of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. Thereafter, such funds as are 
7 
necessary shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
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the remainder of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and SUbsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
11 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION II. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approv,ed, 
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