Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17th) CONGRESS

First Regular Session

Es 4323
House Bill No.

SS

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

—_——————$——

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The first 1,000 days of a child is the period from pregnancy to the first
two years of birth. The provisions of nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene
programs and services are necessary during this period and if sustained
these have proven to make children 10 times more likely to overcome
threatening diseases, complete 4.6 more grades of school and go on to earn
up to 50% more in wages as adults.

Studies conducted by UNICEF have proven that undernutrition is the
underlying cause of almost half (45%) of child deaths in the world,
amounting to 95 child deaths per day in the Philippines. Undernutrition is
also associated with up to 3% GDP losses, stunting the lives of many
Filipinos. State policy interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition
and care during the first 1,000 days window bear investments both in the
quality of human life of individuals as well as economic growth and
productivity for the Philippines.

The following are concerns under the 1,000 days period of the child's
development: a) Pregnant and lactating mothers need to have access to
enough food nutrients such as IFA daily supplements and iron-rich foods


with iodized salt to prevent anemia and fetal brain damage; b) every infant
needs to be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, without
fluids, milk or water; c) every child 6-24 months needs to be fed age-
appropriate, nutrient-dense complementary food with increased quantity,
density and frequency as the child ages; d) Every child needs to be protected
against diseases caused by undernutrition through full immunization and
annual vitamin A supplementation and deworming projects; e) all pregnant
women needs access to safe water and clean toilets and can practice good
hygiene contributes to reducing maternal anemia and maternal environment
enteropathy; f) all health facilities should have safe water supply and clean
functional toilets with hand-washing facilities contributes to safe deliveries
of mother and children; g) open defacation should be eliminated and safe
disposal of children's feces should be ensured to reduce infections and
ensure a cleaner living environment;

The aforementioned needs can be addressed and administered to our
Filipino mothers and children through a strengthened and responsive
Program at the health facility or local level, Facility-based services and
community support from prenatal care to breastfeeding to immunization and
promotion and management of nutrition all need to be developed,
coordinated and capacitated immediately.

Through the right nutrition during the first 1,000 days, the society's
long-term health, stability and prosperity can be shaped and fulfilled.

PCefry-

ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17't) CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4323

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CARE
PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF TO PROTECT
FILIPINO MOTHER AND CHILDREN FROM UNDERNUTRITION

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 as the “First 1,000
Days Act of 2016,”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -It is hereby declared the policy of
the State: (a) To equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the
unborn from conception. (b) To recognize the right of the child to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, and the duty of the
State to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such
health care services,


For purposes of this act, the “first 1,000 days of a child" shall be
known as the period from pregnancy (270 days) to the first two years of the
child's birth (180 days for the first six months, 550 days until the child's
second birthday);

SECTION 3. The First 1000 Days Program - The Department of Health
(DOH) shall, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), the National Nutrition Council (NNC), and the Food and Nutrition
Research Institute-Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-
DOST), develop a comprehensive health care program for the 1,000 days
developmental period, addressing the prenatal, postnatal and nutritional
needs and services of pregnant women and their children to be implemented
and distributed in every barangay's health care unit.

SECTION 4. Program Content. - The comprehensive maternal and
child health care program will communicate a common understanding for
undernutrition, its economic impact and evidence-based solutions, It will
administer services to eligible mothers and children covered by the 1,000
days period including the following:

4.1 Prenatal care educational services shall include pregnancy
tracking and risk identification of complications, nutritional status
identification, micro-nutrient supplementation, use of iodized salt
and fortified food, oral health, prevention of neonatal tetanus, aid
in preparation of birth plans and assistance to PhilHealth enrolment;

4.2. Prenatal facility-based services. in the management of
complications in pregnancy such as the provision of essential
intrapartum and newborn care (EINC) and mother-baby friendly
initiative services;

4.3. Educational services, counselling and facilities for the promotion
and prioritization of breastfeeding; and lactation support for women
about to return to work, women with infants in the workplace and in
the informal sector

4.4, Expanded programs for immunization;
4.5. Non-fragmented nutritional surveillance and micronutrient

supplementation for high-risk infants, children during the 6 months
to 59 months period, for nutritionally at-risk mothers;


4.6, Water, sanitation, hygiene and deworming projects;
4, 7. Growth and development monitoring and promotion;

SECTION 5. Nutrition Officers. - To significantly develop Nutrition
Service Delivery,

5.1 Municipal Nutrition Action Officers shall officially be made full-
time positions, with corresponding qualifications, for all local
government units such that quality of service delivery can be improved
and accountability can be clearly defined;

5.2 Barangay Nutrition Scholars shall be promoted to official
plantilla positions with no more than three (3) being appropriated to
each barangay, provided that they have undergone the training and
passed the qualifications, for all local government units such that
quality and quantity of service delivery can be improved and
accountability can be clearly defined;

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health shall, in
coordination with the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, and
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development and representatives of
recognized women’s and children’s organizations and academic
communities, promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the effectivity
of this Act.

SECTION 6. Appropriation. - To carry out the provisions of this Act,
such amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated
from the National Treasury,

SECTION 7, Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision
not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or
regulation contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act is hereby
repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.


SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,