Duterte signs law scaling up nutrition for mothers, babies in first 1,000 days

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure which provides government support to children in their first 1,000 days, a crucial stage of development, according to the document released by Malacañang on Monday.

Duterte signed on November 29 Republic Act 11148 (Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act) which aims to scale up nutrition intervention programs in the first 1,000 days of a child's life.

It also aims to allocate resources in a "sustainable manner" to improve the nutritional status and address malnutrition of infants from zero to two years old, adolescent females, pregnant and lactating women and to ensure growth and development of infants and young children.

Under the law, the the Department of Health, the National Nutrition Council, and the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other state agencies, local government units and stakeholders, are mandated to develop a comprehensive strategy for the first 1,000 days of life.

The program shall be implemented at the barangay level through the rural health units and/or barangay health centers in coordination with the Sangguniang Barangay. The Barangay Nutrition Scholars and the Barangay Health Workers shall be mobilized and provided with resources and benefits to carry out their tasks.

Priority recipients are those who reside in disaster-prone areas and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) such as areas that are inaccessible to transportation and identified to have incidences of poverty.

The amount needed for the initial implementation of RA 11148 will be charged against the appropriations of the DOH, DA, NNC and other relevant agencies.

"Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act," the law stated. — BM, GMA News