Question & AnswerQ&A (IRR Republic Act No. 11037)
The short title is the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise known as the 'Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.'
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are the lead agencies responsible for implementing the National Feeding Program.
The IRR applies to all public day care centers, kindergarten, and elementary schools, including all home-based supplemental feeding programs managed by DSWD in coordination with LGUs and those implemented by DepEd under the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) that satisfy the definition of an undernourished child.
An undernourished child is one who has less than the minimum amount of food essential for sound health and growth, including those suffering from chronic hunger, malnutrition, wasting, stunting, micronutrient deficiency, or severely wasted as per WHO Child Growth Standards.
The components include the Supplemental Feeding Program for Day Care Children, School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), Milk Feeding Program, Micronutrient Supplements, Health Examinations, Deworming and Vaccination, Gulayan sa Paaralan (school gardens), and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs.
LGUs assist the NGAs in program implementation, may use portions of SEF or development funds to augment appropriations, oversee program monitoring, facilitate training, integrate feeding budgets into local plans, and provide technical and logistical support including food safety trainings.
The NGAs are mandated to encourage private sector participation including PTAs, corporations, NGOs, and other groups, through partnerships governed by Joint Memoranda of Agreement that specify criteria, roles, and responsibilities, while respecting prohibitions such as those under EO 51 concerning breastmilk substitutes.
The IRR mandates coordination with the Department of Agriculture, National Dairy Authority (NDA), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), and others to source fresh milk and fresh milk-based food products locally as much as practicable for incorporation into fortified meals, promoting local dairy farmers and complying with procurement laws and quality standards.
The NGAs, LGUs, NNC, and other stakeholders shall regularly monitor and evaluate the Program’s impact, compliance with food safety and procurement standards, and submit annual reports to the Office of the President and Congress. The National Nutrition Information System (NNIS) is established for data harmonization and management.
Donations made to NGAs or LGUs for the Program are exempt from donor’s tax, subject to approval by the NGAs upon recommendations by relevant agencies such as NNC or DOH. Feeding Program projects will be included in the National Priority Programs list for full tax deduction benefits for private sector donations.