SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OFTHE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
. First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.B.No.J40 
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'13 JUl -3 Pl2 :39 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Addressing m;:llnutrition among Filipino children remains a great challenge, 
especially because with 19.2 per(:ent of the population experiencing hungerl, we 
cannot expect that these poor families would even.be able to choose healthy meals to . 
feed their children. 
According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), approximately 32 
percent of Filipino children ages 5-10 years old are underweight, while 33.6 percent 
of children under the same age group are stunted.2 
In an effort to address riutritional deficiencies among children, we must 
institutionalize a Milk Feeding Program wherein locally produced milk, as well as 
formula milk, shall be given to children qetween five and 10 years of age 
nationwide. 
We need to provide budgetar}( appropriations to ensure the ·sustainable 
implementation of this program. Thus, this bm seeks to establish a Milk Feeding 
Fund. 
In view of the foregoing, the imme.diate passage .of this bill is earnestly requested. 
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Sen"tor 
1 SWS survey on hunger. incidence in the Philippines conducted on March 19-22, 
2013 
2 DOST -FNRI: LifeStage Approach in Assessing and Monitoring Nutritional Status: 
ResultsJrom the 2011 Survey on Updating the Nutritional Status of Filipino 
Children and Other Population Groups. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B.No.MO 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda , 
AN ACT' 
'13 
JUL -3 P12 :39 
PROTECTING THE FILIPINO CHILDREN FROM MALNUTRITION, 
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INSTITUTIONALIZING FOR THIS Pl[RPQSE "THE MILK FEEDING 
PROGRAM", APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the' Sen,ate and House of Refresentatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled: 
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Section 1, Title. This Act shall be known as the "MilkFeeding'Act of 2013." 
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Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy' of the State to ensure the 
health and welfare of vulnerable children. ' 
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Se~tion 3. Milk Feeding. Milk feeding, as used in this Act, shall cover 
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distribution of locally produced fresh milk from cows"carabaos and' goats as well as 
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formula milk in powdered form for direct intake of children ages 5-10 years old. The 
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fresh milk shall come from the produce of the local milk suppliers and milk feeding 
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sponsors, whether private or government. No milk intended for milk feeding shall 
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be used for commercial sale. 
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Section 4. Priority Coverage. Priority shall be given to children inbarangay 
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day care centers, pre-schools and schools where malnutrition is high and further to 
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communities. 
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Section 5. The Milk Feeding Fund. There is hereby allocated an initial amount 
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of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) out of the total tax collection of the 
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National Government for the current year from the importation of milk and dairy 
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product as well as dairy equipment and implements in order to enhance and 
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augment the e~isting funds for the National Milk Feeding Program of the National 
Dairy Authority. Said allocation shall constitute the seed money for the Miik Fund. 
Annually, thereafter, the Milk Feeping Iiund shall be augmented by seventy-
five percent (75%) of the annual tax collection of .the National Goverrunent from the 
importation of milk and dairy products as well as dairy equipment and- implement; 
seventy percent (70%) of which shall be used for the National MilkFeeding Program 
and the balance of thirty percent (30%) shall be used for other dairy and dairy-
related activities. 
Section 6., Funding Alternatives. 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: 
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At least ten percent (10%) of the generated funds ;resulting from the grant 
of RP 'Food Aid Fun Overseas Development Assistance Fund and other 
confinned furid assistance to the Philippine Government, or 
At least one-half ('12) of one percent (1 %) of the AnnuiJl Approved General 
Appropriation Budget ofthe Goverrunent. 
Section 7. Facilitation of Funding. The Department o.f .Finance (DOF) and the 
Department of Budget qnd Management (DBM). are hereby directed to set aside the 
above amount from the taxes collected on the' importation' of milk and -dairy 
products 'as well as dairy equipment and implements and/ or to secure the 
stipulated ten percent (10%), automatic allocation' against all confirmed fund 
assistance sources cited in Section 6 hereof, or to allocate the one-half c(l/2) of one 
percent (1.%) of' the Annual Approved' General Appropriation budget of the 
Government, whichever fund is available. 
Section 8. Implementing Authority. The National I::)airy Authority, consistent 
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with its mandate under Republic Act No, 7884, is herepy authorized to administer 
.the utilization of the aforesaid fund for the Nation Milk Feeding Program and other 
dairy-reiated development, activitie$. The NDA shflll tap bona fide and reputable 
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women's organization as milk feeding partner as well as other government agencies 
and non-government organizp.tions (NGOs) with social reform, procpoor and pro-
child agenda. 
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Section 9. Milk Feeding Incentives. Any private entity or benefactor, local or 
foreign, that supports the Milk Feeding Program in whatever form, shall be given 
due tax credit equivalent to 100% of the value of their contribution to the program. 
Section 10. Repealing Clause. All acts, executive orders, administrative 
orders, proclamation, rules and regulation or parts thereof inconsistent with any of 
provision of this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
Section 11. Separability Clause. If any. part, section or provision of thIS Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof not affected 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
Section 12. Effectivity. This ~ct shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general.circulation. 
Approved, 
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