NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
1843
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23 FEB-6 P6 'A3
RliCEIVED BV:
S.B. No.
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM 
AND MANDATING THE PROCUREMENT FROM SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN 
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 11037 OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO
ACT"
Explanatory Note
Republic Act 11037, also known as the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang 
Pilipino Act, was signed into law for the purpose of establishing a National Feeding 
Program for Undernourished Children in Public Day Care, Kindergarten and Elementary 
Schools to Combat Hunger and Undernutrition in our country. However, Reports 
indicate that the majority of Filipino children still go to school on an empty stomach. 
It is the policy of the state to promote children's rights to survival and development. 
It is imperative that we recognize the link between a healthy diet and the growth of 
the body and mind. The State shall encourage school children from Kindergarten to 
Grade 12, particularly those from low-income families, to have access to affordable 
and wholesome food. Improving the health condition of the children will not only 
improve their learning capacity but also improve their academic performance.


The purpose of this bill is to implement affordable health and nutrition programs by 
ensuring that proper, age-appropriate, and affordable health and nutrition programs 
are accessible to school children throughout their childhood years. This bill also seeks 
to help our agricultural industry by mandating that 30% or more of the supplies 
needed to implement the national feeding program shall be procured from small-scale 
farmers.
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill Is eari
FY T. TULFQ


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1843
of tl)e t' C' ttra?
23 FEB-6 P6'43
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by; Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE FREE SCHOOL MEALS 
PROGRAM AND MANDATING THE PROCUREMENT FROM SMALL SCALE 
FARMERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FEEDING 
PROGRAM AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 11037 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA
BATANG PILIPINO ACT"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Definition of Small-scale farmers -
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Small-scale farmers in the Philippines shall refer to individual or collective farm
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operators who engage in agricultural and fishery activities, with total land and/or water
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area of operation, including leased areas, not exceeding five (5) hectares.
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Sec.2. - Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise known as the Masustansyang Pagkain
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Para sa Batang Pilipino Act is hereby amended by inserting the following provisions
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after Section 7 of the said Act:
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SECTION 8. PROCUREMENT OF PRODUCE FROM SMALL SCALE PRODUCERS 
THE GOVERNMENT IS, HEREBY, MANDATED TO ENSURE THAT 30% OR
1


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MORE OF THE SUPPLIES NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE NATIONAL FEEDING 
PROGRAM ARE PROCURED FROM SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS.
SECTION 9. REGISTRY OF SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS - THE DA SHALL KEEP 
AND REGULARLY UPDATE A LIST OF SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS. IT SHALL 
USE THE REGISTRY FOR BASIC SECTORS IN AGRICULTURE (RSBSA), THE 
REGIONAL FIELD OFFICE (RFO) LIST OF BENEFICIARIES. THE BUREAU OF 
FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES'S NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR 
MUNICIPAL FISHERFOLK REGISTRATION (BEAR FISH R) FOR FISHERFOLK, 
AND ANY OTHER LIST IT MAY DEEM NECESSARY TO KEEP THE REGISTRY UP 
TO DATE.
FURTHERMORE, THE DA IS REQUIRED TO COORDINATE WITH THE DSWD TO 
CROSS-MATCH AND COMPARE THE REGISTRY.WITH THE DSWD'S NATIONAL 
HOUSEHOLD TARGETING SYSTEM FOR POVERTY REDUCTION (NHTS-PR) TO 
AVOID DUPLICATION AND REDUNDANCY.
SECTION 10. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES 
WHO ARE SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS - THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN 
REFORM (DAR) SHALL INSTITUTE THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS FOR AGRARIAN 
REFORM BENEFICIARIES WHO ARE SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS AS 
CONTAINED IN THEIR LIST OF BENEFICIARIES:
A. TRAINING ON PRODUCTION, HARVESTING, PROCUREMENT PROCESS OF 
THIS ACT, AND ANY OTHER TOPIC THE DAR SEES FIT;
B. SUBSIDIZED FARM EQUIPMENT;
C. FACILITIES FOR STORAGE AND HARVESTING;
D. CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SMALL-SCALE FARMER;
E. ACCESS TO CROP INSURANCE;
F. ACCESS TO CREDIT/LOW INTEREST RATES
SEC. 3. Expanding the coverage of the National Feeding Program to Grade 12. 
Section 4 of the same act shall be read as follows:


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SEC. 4. National Feeding Program. - The National Feeding Program, hereinafter 
referred to as the Program, is hereby established to address undernutrition 
among Filipino children. The Program shall have the following components and 
coverage:
(a) xxx;
(b) School-Based Feeding Program. - The DepEd shall implement a school- 
based feeding program for undernourished public school children from 
kindergarten to (grade six (6)-) GRADE TWELVE (12);:
(c) xxx;
SEC. 4. Section 8 of RA 11037 is hereby amended as Section 11, and all succeeding 
sections of the same act are hereby renumbered accordingly.
SEC.5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the DA, DAR 
DSWD , the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the Food and Nutrition Research 
Institute (FNRI), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Interior and 
Local Government (DILG), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and 
such other relevant government agencies, nongovernment organizations, and 
development partners, shall promulgate their respective rules and regulations for the 
efficient and effective of this act. The implementing rules and regulations issued 
pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation.
SEC.6. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.
30 SEC. y.Repealing Clause.


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All laws, decrees, orders and rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with
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the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
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SEC.8. Effectivity. - This Act shali take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
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in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,