Duterte signs ‘First 1,000 Days’ Law

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill that aims to expand the country’s nutrition and health programs

Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11148 or “KalusuganatNutrisyonng Mag-Nanay Act” on November 23, but it was only released to the media on Monday, December 10.

Under the “First 1,000 Days” Law, the government will give priority to the nutrition of pre- pregnant, pregnant and lactating women, and infants and young children.

It will also provide “comprehensive, sustainable multi-sectoral strategies and approaches to address health and nutrition problems of newborns, infants and young children, pregnant and lactating women and adolescent females, as well as multi-factoral issues that negatively affect the development of newborns, infants and young children, integrating the short, medium and long-term plans of the government to end hunger, improve health and nutrition, and reduce malnutrition.”

Under the new law, the Department of Health (DoH), the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with other state agencies and local government units, will formulate national nutrition policies, plans, strategies and approaches for the nutrition improvement, including, strategies on women, infant and young child, and adolescent nutrition. The NNC Governing Board shall be composed of the DoH - person, and the Agriculture chief and Interior Secretary as ex of-

The board also include secretaries of the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Trade and Industry, Labor and Employment, Science and Technology, and Budget and National Economic and Development Authority.

Sen. Ralph Recto said at least P17 billion would be needed to implement the 1,000 days program which would inoculate 2.7 million pregnant women against tetanus and diphtheria.

The new law seeks to strengthen the enforcement of Executive Order 51 or the “Milk Code,” and RA 10028, or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009,” which promotes optimal infant and young child feeding and maternity protection.