Masustansyang Pagkain Para Sa Batang Pilipino Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES , First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P6:13 SENT 31 S.B. No. REC27208 Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11037 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT" APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution states that "The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them." Child nutrition is a shared responsibility. It is fundamental to a child's physical, mental, and emotional development. According to UNICEF, as of 2014, 95 Filipino children die from malnutrition every day. According to a 2021 report of the World Bank, the Philippines have not made any improvement in lowering the prevalence of malnutrition in the past thirty years, with the Philippines ranking fifth among countries in the East Asia and Pacific region with the highest prevalence of stunting. This problem is not just a health concern but also an economic concern as well, as the burden brought by childhood undernutrition on the Philippine economy was at USD 4.4 billion or around 1.5% of our GDP in 2015. If left unaddressed, stunting and wasting can have lifelong consequences that trap families in cycles of poverty and slow the country's economic progress. To address undernutrition, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed, in 2018, Republic Act No. 11037 or the "Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act" which established a National Feeding Program for undernourished public-school children in day care centers, as well as those in kindergarten to Grade 6. The law was enacted to address the problem of undernutrition, with the State recognizing the demonstrated relationship between food and nutrition, and the capacity of students to develop and learn.

The National Feeding Program currently caters to undernourished children aged 3-5 years old in the day care centers and the supervisory neighborhood play program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and undernourished public-school children from kindergarten to grade six (6) who are enrolled in public schools under the Department of Education (DepEd). Given the abovementioned, this measure aims to improve Republic Act No. 11037 by including the distribution of Nutribuns in the school feeding program of the DepEd and the DSWD. The bill also seeks to include the inclusion of nutribuns in the food packs which shall be distributed by the DSWD in times of disaster. Nutribuns are an effective and proven approach to fight malnutrition of school children by ensuring that children will receive daily the adequate nutrient intake. Nutribuns are healthy and fortified, which are all prepared according to the standards set by the Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Free h. mares IMEE R. MARCOS

.... TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 JUL 10 P6:14 First Regular Session SENATE S.B. No. 431 Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11037 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT" APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11037 otherwise known as the

"Masustansyang Pagkain Para Sa Batang Pilipino Act" shall be amended to read, as follows: "Sec. 4. National Feeding Program. - The National Feeding Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, is hereby established to address undernutrition among Filipino children. XXX (b) School-Based Feeding Program. - The DepEd shall implement a school-based feeding program for undernourished public school children from kindergarten to grade six (6): Provided, That the Program shall include the provision of at least one (1) fortified meal to all undernourished public elementary school children for a period of not less than one hundred twenty (120) days in a year,. PROVIDED FURTHER THAT, THE PROGRAM SHALL ALSO INCLUDE THE DISTRIBUTION OF NUTRIBUNS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE SIX (6). THE

NUTRIENTS OF THE NUTRIBUNS SHALL BE BASED ON THE STANDARDS SET BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH INSTITUTE (DOST - FNRI). XXX." (h) Integrated Nutrition Education, Behavioral Transformation, and Social Mobilization. - The Program shall be complemented by a public health, nutrition, and values transformation campaign to promote a holistic and integrated approach to health and nutrition education. Orientation-training on the objectives and mechanics of the Program shall be held among personnel of the NGAs and LCDs concerned, parent volunteers and the parent-teachers associations (PTAs) to generate support for the Program. The NGAs concerned shall also endeavor to mobilize community organizations to continue nutrition education outside of the school-; and (i) THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) SHALL INCLUDE NUTRIBUNS, WHENEVER FEASIBLE, IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FAMILY FOOD PACKS TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY ANY DISASTER TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILDREN SHALL HAVE ADEQUATE DAILY NUTRIENT INTAKE. PROVIDED THAT, NUTRIBUNS, WHENEVER FEASIBLE, SHALL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING OF THE DSWD TO CHILDREN ENROLLED IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND SUPERVISED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAY."

SEC. 2. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of

this Act shali be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) calendar days

after the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development

(DSWD) and Department of Education (DepEd) shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or

other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following

the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. Approved,