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Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED 2
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - mA
Quezon City, Metro Manila jc DATE 27 J i“)
TIME _@: by

TWENTIETH CONGRESS g

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First Regular Session

House Bill No._2972

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO
AND JOCELYN P. TULFO

AN ACT CREATING THE POSITION OF BARANGAY NUTRITION WORKER
IN EVERY BARANGAY, PROVIDING INCENTIVES THERETO, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that the State
shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them.

In the Philippines, nutrition-related health issues persist. According to the
World Bank Databank: Global Nutrition Report, stunting remains a major challenge
while anemia is also a major issue for children in the country. Evidence-based and
cost-effective interventions can improve nutrition outcomes, and community health
workers play a critical role in providing such interventions.t

Among the country’s nutrition workforce, nutrition workers remain as the first
line of defense against diseases and infections, and serve as the vital link between
communities to health providers and facilities, and ultimately the government. In
accordance with Presidential Decree No. 1569, one volunteer barangay nutrition
scholar shall be provided in every barangay to deliver nutrition services, community
health, and environmental sanitation, among other responsibilities, to address
malnutrition in the country. Under the current set-up, barangay nutrition scholars are
coterminous with the barangay officials who hired them. They are forced to resign
after three years, upon the end of term of their appointers and the assumption of the

+How Do Community Health Workers Contribute to Better Nutrition? Philippines”, Strengthening Partnerships,
Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally project. (SPRING), 2016, www.spring-nutrition-
org/sirtes/default/files/publications/tools/spring-apc_country_slide_doc-philippines_29_nov_2016.pdf.



new set of barangay officials, disrupting and greatly affecting ongoing health and
nutrition community programs and projects.?

This proposed legislative measure seeks the creation of one (1) mandatory
position of “Barangay Nutrition Worker” in every barangay who is entitled to a
monthly allowance of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) and other
benefits and incentives. This will further strengthen the Barangay Nutrition Program,
as well as the delivery of nutrition services and other related activities - such as
community health, backyard food production, environmental sanitation, culture,
supplemental feeding, and responsible parenthood - to the barangay.

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

RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO JOCELY! $/

Repypsentative Representatite
2 Distridt of Quezon City ACT-CIS Partylist

‘Abalos pushes for regularization of barangay health workers, nutrition scholars”, Villamente, Jing, Daily
Tribune, 16 Feb 2024, https:/tribune.net.ph/2024/02/ 16/abalos-pushes-for-regularization-of-barangay-health-
workers-nutrition-scholars,


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 29/2

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO
AND JOCELYN P. TULFO

AN ACT CREATING THE POSITION OF BARANGAY NUTRITION WORKER
IN EVERY BARANGAY, PROVIDING INCENTIVES THERETO, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and referred to as the “Barangay
Nutrition Worker Act”.

SEC. 2. Barangay Nutrition Program. - To further strengthen the Barangay Nutrition
Program, there shall be created under the administration and supervision of the
National Nutrition Council (NNC), in coordination with the city or municipality and
the barangay, one (1) mandatory position of Barangay Nutrition Worker in every

barangay witha monthly allowance of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00)

SEC. 3. Barangay Nutrition Worker. - The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be
appointed by the Mayor, with the concurrence of the majority of all Sangguniang Bayan
or Sangguniang Panlungsod Members, and the Sangguniang Barangay concerned. The
Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be responsible for delivering nutrition services and
other related activities such as community health, backyard food production,
environmental sanitation, culture, supplemental feeding, and responsible parenthood

to the barangay.


SEC. 4, Services. - The Barangay Nutrition Worker, while undergoing training under
the Barangay Nutrition Program, shall serve the barangay on a voluntary basis for at
least six (6) months. Thereafter, the NNC shall assess his or her performance and make

the necessary recommendation for his or her appointment.

SEC. 5. Qualifications. - The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall possess the following

qualifications:

(a) A bona fide resident of the barangay for at least one (1) year, with ability to speak
the major dialect;

(b) With leadership potential and the initiative and willingness to serve the barangay
for at least one (1) year;

(©) Willingness to learn and to teach what he or she has learned to the barangay
residents;

(d) Atleast a high school graduate;

(c) Physical and mental fitness; and

(f) Atleast eighteen (18) years old, but not more than sixty (60) years old.

SEC. 6. Recruitment. - The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be recruited from
within the barangay and shall be tested on the basis of mental ability and work aptitude.

SEC. 7. Training. - Before actual barangay service, the Barangay Nutrition Worker
shall undergo appropriate and sufficient training on selected topics, such as nutrition,
health, food production, and environmental sanitation, based on defined task
expectations to be conducted by a provincial training team in coordination with the
municipal and barangay nutrition committee. This training shall be supplemented by a
practicum to be conducted in the barangay where the worker is assigned, and such

activity shall be in coordination with the local training team.


SEC. 8, Benefits. - The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be entitled to a training
stipend, meal, and travel allowance of at least Three Hundred Pesos (PhP300.00) per
day. During the period of volunteer service prior to his or her appointment, the
Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be entitled to allowance of Five Thousand Pesos
(PHP5,000.00) every month.

The Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be granted a civil service eligibility equivalent
to second grade after the completion of at least two (2) years of continuous and

satisfactory service in the barangay.

SEC. 9. Incentives. - To further enhance the nutrition program, the NNC, in
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education, shall formulate a scholarship
program where incumbent and deserving barangay nutrition workers shall be given
the opportunity to avail of a scholarship grant in any state college or university and

pursue a course relevant to his or her present position.

SEC. 10. Nutrition Committees. - The organization of local nutrition committees and
the implementation of their respective nutrition program shall be the responsibility of
the provincial/city nutrition committee headed by the Governor/Mayor as Chairman

and a municipal nutrition committee headed by the Mayor as Chairman.

SEC. 11. Local Training Team. - The local training team of the municipality or city
shall be composed of two (2) members chosen from among the members of the
municipal or city nutrition committee. This team shall follow up the activities of the

trained Barangay Nutrition Worker.

SEC. 12. Role of the Mayor. - The Municipal or City Mayor shall initiate activities to
implement the nutrition program within the municipality or city and organize the local

training teams, and may recommend the appropriation by the municipality or city of a


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local counterpart in the form of additional allowance for the Barangay Nutrition
Worker.

SEC. 13. Barangay Nutrition Workers Staff Secretariat. - There shall be a staff
secretariat in every province or city which shall monitor the program, identify its

problems, and recommend possible solutions thereto.

SEC. 14. Role of the National Nutrition Council. - The NNC shall formulate rules
and regulations, plans and programs within the limits set forth in this Act, and allocate
the funds to the various provinces and/or agencies for disbursement in accordance with

the financial plan of the Barangay Nutrition Program.

SEC. 15. Donations. - For purposes of this Program, the National Nutrition Council
and the local government units (LGUs) are authorize to receive grants, donations, gifts,
or bequests from various government agencies and government corporations which

shall be tax exempt.

SEC. 16. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of

this Act is hereby appropriated from any available funds in the National Treasury or

from the Special Activities Fund, and authorized to be released. Thereafter, such sums
as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in

the annual General Appropriations Act.

LGUs are likewise authorized to appropriate such amount necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act: Provided, That the city or municipality shall appropriate as
part of its annual budget for personal services the necessary amount of Five Thousand
Pesos (PhP5,000.00) per month per Barangay Nutrition Worker: Provided, further, That
third- to fifth-class municipalities shall appropriate Two Thousand Pesos (PhP2,000.00)
per month per Barangay Nutrition Worker. The difference in the Five Thousand Pesos


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(PhP5,000.00) monthly allowance per Barangay Nutrition Worker shall be included in
the General Appropriations Act for the year following the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts thereof not affected thereby

shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause, - The provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1569 and all
other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified

accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,