FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
1111 
SEP 20 F 1 :3' 
SENATE 
S. No. 2530 
ReCEIVED BY: 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction which can be life-threatening. It occurs when a 
child's immune system overreacts to an allergen. The whole body is affected, usually within 
minutes. When the allergen is detected by the immune system, it triggers the release of massive 
amounts of histamine and other chemicals, and can cause the body to go into anaphylactic shock. 
This produces rapid and sometimes life-threatening symptoms. Allergies are unpredictable and 
some children who have only ever reacted mildly may go on to have the more serious symptom 
of breathing difficulty, or wheeziness. 1 • 
This bill seeks to develop uniform guidance on how to create appropriate management 
and emergency plans for children with food allergies. The bill will direct the Secretary of Health 
to develop a voluntary policy for schools to implement measures to prevent exposure to food 
allergens and to ensure a prompt response if a child suffers a potentially fatal anaphylactic 
reaction. 
I http://www.babycentl'e.co.uk/babylhealth/anaphylaxis/. 
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OFFICE OF HoL :',;:CREr ~n" 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENA2T5E30 
~. No. ~""-'''-'''c=-
16 
SEf' 20 P 1 :3' 
RECEIVED BV :~;;...._ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE 
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SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES TO BE USED ON A 
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VOLUNTARY BASIS TO DEVELOP PLANS TO MANAGE THE RISK OF FOOD 
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ALLERGY AND ANAPHYLAXIS IN SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Food Allergy and 
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Anaphylaxis Management Act". 
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SECTION 2. Establishment of Voluntary Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management 
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Guidelines. - Not later than one year after the date of effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the 
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Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Education 
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(DepEd), shall: 
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(A) develop guidelines to be used on a voluntary basis to develop plans for individuals to 
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manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood 
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education programs; and 
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(B) make such guidelines available to local educational agencies, schools, early childhood 
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education programs, and other interested entities and individuals to be implemented on a 
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voluntary basis only. 
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The voluntary guidelines developed by the DOH Secretary shall address each of the 
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following, and may be updated as the Secretary determines necessary: 
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(1) Parental obligation to provide the school or early childhood education program, prior 
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to the start of every school year, with: 
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(A) documentation from their child's physician or nurse -
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(i) 
supporting a diagnosis of food allergy, and any risk of anaphylaxis, 
if applicable; 
(ii) 
identifying any food to which the child is allergic; 
(iii) describing, if appropriate, any prior history of anaphylaxis; 
(iv) listing any medication prescribed for the child for the treatment of 
anaphylaxis; 
(v) 
detailing emergency treatment procedures in the event of a reaction; 
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(vi) listing the signs and symptoms of a reaction; and 
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(vii) assessing the child's readiness for self-administration of prescription 
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medication; and 
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(B) a list of substitute meals that may be offered to the child by school food 
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service personnel. 
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(2) The creation and maintenance of an individual plan for food allergy management, in 
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consultation with the parent, tailored to the needs of each child with a documented risk for 
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anaphy laxis, including any procedures for the self-administration of medication by such children 
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in instances where the children are capable of self-administering medication. 
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(3) Communication strategies between individual schools and providers of emergency 
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medical services, including appropriate instructions for emergency medical response. 
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(4) Strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents III 
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classrooms and common school areas such as cafeterias. 
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(5) The dissemination of general information on life-threatening food allergies to school 
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staff, parents, and children. 
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(6) Food allergy management training of school personnel who regularly come into 
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contact with children with life-threatening food allergies. 
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(7) The authorization and training of school personnel to administer epinephrine when the 
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nurse is not immediately available. 
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(8) The timely accessibility of epinephrine by school or early childhood education 
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program personnel when the nurse is not immediately 'available. 
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(9) The creation of a plan contained in each individual plan for food allergy management 
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that addresses the appropriate response to an incident of anaphylaxis of a child while such child 
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is engaged in extracurricular programs of a school or early childhood education program, such as 
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non-academic outings and field trips, before and after school, and school-sponsored held on 
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weekends. 
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(10) Maintenance of information for each administration of epinephrine to a child at risk 
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for anaphylaxis and prompt notification to parents. 
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(11) Other elements the DOH Secretary determines necessary for the management of 
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food allergies and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood education programs. 
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SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
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unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (IS) days after its publication 
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in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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