Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (Bidani) Act

Oftice of the s 1E10'T TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG -5 P4:29 SENATE RECEIVED B! S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BARANGAY INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT APPROACH FOR NUTRITION IMPROVEMENT OF THE RURAL POOR AS A LINKAGE PROGRAM FOR ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The State has consistently put premium on the promotion of the health of its people. Various programs and initiatives are consistently being implemented to ensure that the development efforts of the country are anchored on this priority. Especially in rural areas, health and nutrition services need to be continuously improved because, among others, malnutrition particularly among children, remain to be a serious concern. The government's efforts are acknowledged by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) when it stated that "The Government of the Philippines recognizes that addressing the malnutrition challenge requires broad cooperation and commitment from several government agencies, other public sector entities and the private sector, notable those across the food, health and social protection systems."1 Philippines: Fill the Nutrient Gap - Summary Report (November 2018) - Philippines | ReliefWeb

According to the study, "Delivering Essential Nutrition Services Through Community Action in the Philippines" published by UNICEF on May 2024, "The prevalence of stunting among children under 2 years in the Philippines (21.8 per cent) is among the highest in the region, with some areas having rates higher than 40 per cent, particularly among the poorest and rural populations. Although progress has been made on stunting, rates have only dropped three percentage points in nine years, which is an insufficient decrease to achieve SDG targets. Progress has also been made on wasting, which remains at a medium level of public health concern, with a 6 per cent prevalence of global acute malnutrition and a 2 per cent prevalence of severe acute malnutrition. Overweight children are also a growing concern, with 4.2 per cent of children under five years overweight. The prevalence of low birth weight increased from 14.7 per cent to 21 per cent in 2015. One in four pregnancies is considered nutritionally at risk. However, teenage pregnancy rates have reduced to around 9 per cent. According to 2021 reports, the Philippines is 'on course to meet two global nutrition targets: exclusive breastfeeding and anaemia." The UN OCHA related several approaches to address this. It said that "development partners can play an active role to fill gaps in programming and provide technical assistance" and that the efforts "requires strong commitment, good understanding and clear acknowledgement of a shared responsibility to address the alarming nutrition situation." Further, it emphasized that "It also requires effective coordination across local government, including the health, agriculture, social welfare and development, and education sectors, plus development partners and the country's extensive private sector." The "Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI) Act seeks to provide the nutritional needs of the poor and vulnerable especially in the rural areas, and give utmost support to programs and projects that combat malnutrition, food and nutrition insecurity, social deprivation, and poverty alleviation. To achieve this, BIDANI is established as a comprehensive nutrition-in- * unicef CHS report-Philippines Final.pdf.pdf

development action research program of the state universities and colleges (SUCs) and community colleges in coordination with other stakeholders in the society. In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended. isset l JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

Offee of the TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) 25 AUG -5 P 4:29 SENATE RECEIVED BY. S. No. - Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BARANGAY INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT APPROACH FOR NUTRITION IMPROVEMENT OF THE RURAL POOR AS A LINKAGE PROGRAM FOR ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 "Barangay Integrated

2 Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI) Act .

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to recognize

nutrition as a basic human right that shall be promoted as a public good and a public 5 concern that can be satisfactory achieved through multi-sectoral support and 6 cooperation. To this end, the State shall vigorously work towards the provision of 7 the nutritional needs of the poor and vulnerable especially in the rural areas, and 8 give utmost support to programs and projects that are responsive to the health needs of the Filipino people.

Sec. 3. Objectives. - This Act shall have the following objectives:

a) To encourage the cooperation and participation of academic institutions and local government units (LGUs) in promoting the nutritional well-being of the people; b) To develop among state universities and colleges (SUCs), and community colleges an effective research-action network program that will improve the nutrition and general well-being of the rural poor; and

c) To improve the nutritional well-being of the poor in the rural areas in order to enhance their health and productivity.

Sec. 4. The Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition

for 4 Improvement Program. - The Barangay Integrated Development Approach Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI) is established as a comprehensive nutrition-in- development action research program of the state universities and colleges (SUCs) and community colleges in support of the health and nutrition program of the national government and local government units (LGUs) whose target beneficiaries are the rural poor. It is a comprehensive model for building the capacity of LGUs to integrate nutrition concerns in countryside development programs that supports the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) to combat malnutrition, food and nutrition insecurity, social deprivation, and poverty alleviation.

Sec. 5. Program Goals. - The BIDANI Program shall promote nutrition-in-

development through community and other stakeholders' participation in an integrated management system facilitated by SUCs. The Program shall: a) Require all SUCs and community colleges to assist the government in achieving the nutrition targets of the PPAN; b) Engage the SUCs and community colleges in the conduct of training and capacity-building activities for all BIDANI stakeholders on the BIDANI strategies and innovative practise to ensure that in-planning nutrition shall be integrated in all areas of local governance; c) Promote the best nutrition-in-development practices of successful LGUs through the participation of local nutrition management teams; and d) Build partnerships among SUCs, community colleges, and other stakeholders to support the citizenry towards self-help and self-reliance; encourage citizen action through the involvement of various stakeholders; and coordinate with government organizations (GOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), private organizations (POs) and other private sector groups in linking the community with existing resources.

Sec. 6. BIDANI Structural/Organizational Linkages. - The BIDANI partners

and stakeholders shall work at different levels, as follows:

a) State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and Community Colleges' Partnership with SUCs shall be formalized through an execution of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB), the national coordinator of the BIDANI Program, represented by its Chancellor, and the President of the concerned SUCs or community colleges. Upon approval of the MOA, the BIDANI Program shall be operationalized under the Office of the Vice President for Research and Extension (OVPRE) of the partner SUC or community college. A BIDANI SUC or community college will then choose and coordinate with its partner LGU; b) City or Municipal Local Government Units - The implementation of the BIDANI as a development strategy shall commence upon the approval by the city or municipality of the nutrition plans formulated by the participating SUC or community college concerned through a city or municipality resolution. Each city or municipality shall then create a City or Municipal organization, such as a committee composed of heads and representatives of different city or municipal line agencies, that shall be responsible for the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and replication of the BIDANI strategy in the locality; c) Barangay Units - The realization of the BIDANI as a development strategy shall be accomplished at the barangay level. The members of each Barangay Development Councils (BDC) shall be expanded and the BDC shall hereinafter be called the Program Planning and Implementing Committee. The Committee shall be composed of representatives from the Sangguniang Barangay, BDC, the various purok in the barangay and other community leaders who shall be trained on the BIDANI strategy to ensure that the processes for planning and management of development programs, projects and activities will be participative and responsive to the needs of the residents of the barangay; and d) Other Stakeholders - The participation and inputs of the NGIs, POs, other government agencies and offices, shall be sought in the formulation of plans by the members of the barangay.

Sec. 7. BIDANI Innovative Strategies. - To facilitate the local implementation

2 of the BIDANI, the Program shall be implemented using the following innovative strategies: a) Formulation of the Barangay Integrated Development Plan (BIDP) - Upon approval of this Act, each barangay shall formulate its BIDP which shall include the barangay's plans and programs relative to nutrition, and which shall be integrated into the municipal development plan; b) Updating of the Existing Barangay Management Information System (BMIS) - As part of its research activities, the concerned SUC or community college shall continue to update its existing people-based information system which shall focus on the identification of the needs of the barangay through efficient and effective data collection. The data shall be the basis for program planning, management and implementation of various projects and activities in the barangay; and c) Implementation of the Participative Nutrition Enhancement Approach (PNEA) - The National Nutrition Council (NNC), and participating SUCs and community colleges shall utilize the life cycle approach in the formulation of food production policies and programs, and promote market-driven livelihood activities among the households to prevent malnutrition among preschool children and nutritionally-at-risk families.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of the

BIDANI linkage program shall be included in the budget of the participating SUCs or community college, in the annual General Appropriations Act. The LGUs shall provide funding to the participating community colleges for the implementation the BIDANI linkage program. Participating SUCs and community colleges may also receive grants, donations, and other forms of financial support from foreign and local persons, institutions, and governments for the implementation of the BIDANI linkage program. In addition, the income generated by participating SUCs or community colleges may also be used to augment the fund for the BIDANI Linkage Program.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from

2 the approval of this Act, the UPLB-BIDANI shall, in coordination with the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and the participating SUCs and community colleges prepare 4 and issue the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or

6 unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,

executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation 10 contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,