;I 
1 3 ~ ~  
CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
lST 
REGULAR SESSION 
SENAT 
The malnutrition level among our children population remains 
unchecked. There are now close to 3.67 million children nationwide 
representing 25% of the entire school children. Move not and the 
problems persist and will worsen. Apropos to the mentioned statistics are 
the study stating that there are 5 out of 10 Filipino children suffering 
from varying degrees of malnutrition based on the nutrition survey of the 
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS). 
Scientific study disclosed that healthy persons need nutritious 
food. And milk has been identified as one complete and nutritious food. 
It supplies more of the essential nutrients in significant amounts than 
any other single food. Milk and milk products can play a vital role in 
providing the basic nutrition the Filipino citizenry needs especially its 
growing children population. The state is cognizant of the fact that a 
prosperous nation is a product of a healthy citizenry. 
Significantly, one of the trusts of the Estrada administration is the 
improvement of the nutritional status of children through the School 
Milk Feeding Program. This is currently being done by the National Dairy 
Authority 
(NDA) supported by the Departments of Agriculture, 
Education, Health and Social Welfare, local government units and 
individuals in areas where modest local dairy operations are present. 
Since its inception, the program reach and achievements remain 
minimal, The National Dairy.Authority (NDA) reported that barely 1.5% of 
the 3.7 million malnourished children nationwide, or only a little over 
50,000 children has been benefited since 1995. The National Milk 
Feeding Program will impact directly the health of the young citizens and 
will stimulate and energize agro-industry development and thus help 
improve rural incomes. 
This bill seeks to institutionalize the government’s Milk Feeding 
Program and compound it with the necessary budgetary appropriations 
and provide the necessary mechanisms to effect a program that will 
reach the will reach the millions and millions of Filipino children. 
Early approval of this Act is earnestly sought. 
n 


“(y4 
Q@J 30 f?’% :36 
(p. 
13m CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
lST REGULAR SESSION 
’ 
SEN 
S.B. No. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
ion 1. This Act shall be known us the 
. Declaration ofPoZicy---The State shall ensure the health 
welfare of the vulnerable children population and shall institute effective 
mechanisms to carry out this policy. The State shall ensure the supply of 
regular food supplement for children in order to create a future 
generation of physically and mentally alert youth. 
3, Milk Feeding Defined---Milk feeding as used in this Act 
shall cover distribution of locally produced fresh milk from cows, 
carabaos and goats for direct intake of children ages 5-10 years old 
nationwide. The fresh milk shall come from the produce of the local milk 
suppliers and milk feeding sponsors, private or government. No milk 
intended for milk feeding shall be used for commercial sale. 
. Prior@ Coverage--- Priority shall be given to children 
who are in the barangay day care centers, pre-schools and school s 
located in the rural areas of the country and where prevalence of 
malnutrition is high, Second priorities are those nursing mothers, 
pregnant and elder persons who also reside in the rural communities. 
5. The Milk Feeding Fund---It is here 
ocated an initial 
~W~~~ 
ILL1 
out of the 1999 
total tax collection of the National Government from the importation of 
milk and dairy products as well as dairy equipment and implements in 
order to enhance and augment the existing funds for the National Milk 
Feeding Program of the National Dairy Authority. Said allocation shall 
constitute the seed money for the Milk Fund. 
Annually, thereafter, the Milk Feeding Fund shall be augmented by 
seventy-five percent (75%) of the annual tax collection of the National 
Government from the importation of milk and dairy products as well as 
dairy equipment and implements; seventy percent (70%) of which shall 
be used for the National Milk Feeding Program and the balance of thirty 
percent (30%) shall be used for other dairy and dairy-related activities. 


ti 
. Funding AZtematiiues---In the event that the milk import 
tariff fund allocation is not available due to previous utilization 
commitment, alternative sourcing shall be automatically effected 
equivalent to either: 
At least 10% of the generated funds resulting from the 
flotation of the ERAP Bonds, grant of RP Food Aid Fun, 
Overseas Development Assistance Fund and other confirmed 
fund assistance to the Philippine Government, or 
At least ?h of 
1% of the Annual Approved General 
appropriation Budget of the Government 
ectio 
. Faditation of Funding---The Department of finance 
and the Department of Budget and Management are hereby directed to 
set aside the above amount from the taxes collected on the importation of 
milk and dairy product as well as dairy equipment and implements and, 
or to secure the stipulated 10% automatic allocation against all confirm 
fund assistance cited in Section, or to allocate the % of 1% of the Annual 
Approval General Appropriation budget of the Government, whichever 
fund is available. 
ecti 
* Implementing Authority---The National Dairy, Authority, 
consistent with its mandate under Republic Act No. 7884, is hereby 
authorized the utilization of the aforesaid funds for the Nation Milk 
Feeding Program and other dairy and dairy-related development 
activities. 
The NDA shall tap bonafide and reputable women’s 
organizations as milk feeding partners as well as other government 
agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) with social reform, 
pro-poor and pro-child agenda. 
eeti 
a Milk Feeding Incentives---Any private entity or 
benefactor, local or foreign who supports the Milk Feeding Program in 
whatever forms, shall be given due tax credit equivalent to 100% of the 
value of their contribution to the program. 
10. Repealing Clause--- All acts, executive orders, 
administrative orders, proclamations, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
11. Separability Clause---If any provision or section of 
this Act or the application thereof to any person, association, or 
circumstances is held invalid, the other pertinent provisions or section of 
this Act and their application to such person, association or 
circumstances shall not be affected thereby. 
. Effedvity---This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
or in the Official Gazette, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved