} HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
18 JUL 2016

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

1662

STRATION UNIT
S.4NO INDEX SERVICE

H. B. No,

Introduced by HONORABLE BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A child's first 1,000 days-the period covering the 9 months of a mother's pregnancy and
her child's first two years-has been dubbed a "window of opportunity." This period is extremely
crucial to a child's fair start in life. As a 2015 Philippine Legislators Committee on Population
and Development (PLCPD) policy brief emphasized:

"..{The first 1,000 days] is when nutrition trumps genetics and a person's
potential is maximized. Getting proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days is crucial
for physical growth of children, a pathway out of poverty for poor households,
and a driver of growth for countries. It prevents more than one-third of child
deaths per year, improves school attainment by at least one year, increases
wages by 5 to 50 percent, reduces poverty because well-nourished children are
33 percent more likely to escape poverty as adults, empowers women to be 10
percent more likely to run their own business and break the intergenerational
cycle of poverty."

Unfortunately, many are unaware of this. Programs for antenatal and postnatal care—as
well as for newborn health and nutrition-may be in place, but more priority and policy focus
must be dedicated to ensuring that our pregnant mothers and newborns receive proper nutrition
Thus, a more comprehensive policy regime is needed.

According to UNICEF, such a policy regime should ~ 1) ensure the nutrition of pregnant
mothers and adolescent girls; 2) mainstream improved breastfeeding practices and 3) improved
complementary feeding practices; 4) provide improved protection against undernutrition and
disease to children between 6 and 24 months; and 5) ensure proper feeding of children who are
sick and undernourished, Support to barangay health volunteers including training courses are
likewise sought to be put in place to help ensure the effective implementation the interventions
during the child's first 1,000 days.

The foregoing measure outlines and aims to establish a First 1,000 Days Program in
every barangay. Such program lays the proper foundation for the country's future growth and
development.

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

seliay teblenss

Representative
Lone District, Province of Aurora


36

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

H. B. no. 86

Introduced by HONORABLE BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO

AN ACT
TO PROTECT FILIPINO MOTHERS AND CHILDREN FROM MALNUTRITION BY
ESTABLISHING A MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CARE PROGRAM
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and 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.”

SEC. 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. It is likewise declared that timely interventions during the first 1,000 days be
undertaken to address issues of malnutrition on children aged 0-2 years old such as
stunting and wasting as well as improve the welfare of pregnant and lactating mothers
nationwide

For purposes of this Act, the “First 1,000 Days” refers to the period starting from Day
One of a woman's pregnancy, until the child reaches the age of two (2) years.

SEC. 3. Establishing a First 1000 Days Program in every barangay. The Department of
Health (DOH) shall, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Nutrition Council
(NNC), and Food and Nutrition Research Institute — Department of Science and Technology
(FNRI - DOST), develop a comprehensive health care program for pregnant and lactating
women as well as the health and nutrition of their newborn children from 1 to 1,000 days, in
every barangay.

SEC. 4. Program Content. The maternal and child health care services which may be
provided to eligible individuals during the 1,000-day period shall, among others, include the
following

a. Vaccinations and Nutritional Supplements: Necessary vaccinations for infants
and nutritional supplements shall be provided free by the Department of Health

b. Check-ups: Regular check-ups during and after pregnancy for the mother and child
shall be mandated and administered by the Barangay Health Centers.

c. Counseling: Pre-natal and ante-natal counseling shall be administered by the
Department of Health and the Local Government Units (LGUs). These shall include
topics on: (a) the importance of clean water, sanitation and hygiene; (b) proper
nutrition; (c) pre-natal and ante-natal health care; (d) the importance of exclusive
breast feeding; (e) treating malnourished children with special and therapeutic foods;
() general family counseling, including child and family development; and (g) timely
intervention through safe, appropriate and high-quality complementary food.

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d. Public Information Drive: Information on nutrition, pregnancy, pre-natal and post-
natal care, breast feeding, and proper hygiene and sanitation shall be disseminated
in schools and barangays health centers through different types of media

€. Monitoring: A National Monitoring System shall be implemented to monitor the
overall status of infants and their mothers and to know the success and areas of
improvement of the program.

f. Breastfeeding Stations: All hospitals and workplaces nationwide shall establish
lactation stations pursuant to RA 10028 or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion
Act of 2009”. In workplaces, breastfeeding breaks shall be provided for working
breastfeeding mothers. Human milk banks shall also be established in health
institutions.

SEC. 5. Interventions. The First 1,000 Days Program includes the provision of the
following interventions:

4. Ensuring nutrition for pregnant mothers and adolescent girls
2. Improved breastfeeding practices (0-6 months)

3, Improved complementary feeding practices (7-24 months)

4. Improved protection against undernutrition and disease (6-24 months)
5. Improved feeding of children who are sick and undernourished

SEC. 6. Barangay Health Volunteers. The DOH, in coordination with the LGUs, shall
provide more support and assistance to Barangay Health Volunteers such as the Barangay
Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). A series of practical and
effective training courses shall also be made available to upgrade their skills and
competence in the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. 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, 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.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as may be
necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter,
the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Program shall be included in the
annual appropriation of the DOH

SEC. 9. 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.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary to or inconsistent with
any provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly

SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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