Public Health Nutrition Milestones in the Philippines

1577

1577

- A dispensary was set up by Fr. Juan Clemente for treating ingredients; later became the San Juan de Dios Hospital (first hospital).

- San Lazaro hospital for contagious diseases was established, followed later by others in Cebu and Camarines Sur.

1806

- Creation of board of vaccinators, and later the office of "medicos titulares" or health officers.

1872

- Founding of first medical school, University of Sto. Tomas.

1876

- Construction of Carriedo waterworks which provided piped water to Manila residents; benefactor was Don Francisco Carriedo whose bequest to the city was used for the construction.

1879

- Establishment of school for midwidery.

1884

- Koniger gave an account of an epidemic of beriberi in Manila and stated that the disease had not been known there previously.

1898

- Establishment of Board of Health; concerns included control of epidemics and infectious diseases, beri beri, and sanitation.

1904

- A disease called "taon", "taol", or "suba" afflicting infants was described Manuel Guerrero; symptoms include infantile beriberi as earlier described by Hirota, a Japanese investigator.

- Later confirmed by Jose Albert in 1910.

1905

- Creation of Bureau of Science.

1907

- Establishment of College of Medicine under the University of the Philippines.

1910

- Founded the Philippine General Hospital (Bureau of Science, College of Medicine, PGH)

- Became the center of scientific instruction and research on infectious diseases and beriberi.

- First nutrition survey results released.

- Recognition of beriberi as being associated with eating white polished rice.

1911

- First demonstration of the effectiveness of a simple dietary change in eradicating beriberi among Philippine scouts.

1912

- Discovery of specific treatment for beriberi --> tiqui-tiqui extract.

Tiqui-tiqui extract

Specific treatment for beri-beri developed by Vedder, Chamberlain, Quintos, and Guerrero.

1914

- Enactment of a law providing for the free distribution of tiqui-tiqui to indigent mothers.

1916-1936

- Period saw the gradual transfer to leadership and responsibilities in public health from Americans to Filipinos.

- Government and Rockeffer Foundation. Fellows were sent abroad to develop a corp of public health men who could assume leadership roles.

- Studies directly related to nutrition include food composition and height/weight standards.

1934

- National Research Council was organized to promote a comprehensive program of research in the basic sciences which included public health.

1936-1942 (Commonwealth Regime)

- Creation of the Department of Health and Welfare, with Dr. Jose Fabella as first Secretary.

- Food and Nutrition was offered as a major field of study at the University of the Philippines in 1939, but World War II intervened before any student could graduate.

1942-1946 (Japanese Occupation)

- Public health activities were practically paralyzed. Activities of the Bureau of Health were directed towards handling of emergencies, prevention of epidemics, especially malaria.

- Food research focused on utilization of non-traditional foods.

1943

- A Board of Nutritional Research was created.

1947

- Organization of the Philippine Association of Nutrition (PAN) by Dr. Presentacion Perez (with Dr. Francisco O. Santos as first
President) played an important role in nutrition advocacy, one outcome of which was the creation of the Institute of Nutrition.

- Creation oft he Philippine Institute of Nutrition (PIN), with Dr. Juan Salcedo, Jr. as the first director. This marked the beginning of organization nutrition activities. Later, after research became an integral function of the Institute, it was renamed Food and
Nutrition Research Center (FNRC) and still later, Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

1948

- Publication of the results of a clinical survey done by Salcedo et. al in Bataan. This market was the beginning of a series of experiments and activities which became collectively known as the Bataan Rice Enrichment Project, a landmark in the annals of public health not only at the national level but internationally.

1955

- Organization of the Dietetic Association of the Philippines (DAP) now known as the Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Philippines (NDAP).

1958

- Marked the reorganization of PIN into the Food and Nutrition Research Center (FNRC) under the National Science and
Development Board after research became an integral function of PIN.

1959

- The Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines (NFP) was established-- first private organization founded by Dr. Juan Salcedo, Jr. (National Scientist and former Secretary of Health and Chairman of NSBD) to complement and supplement government efforts in food and nutrition activities. It pioneered the organization of nutrition councils now known as nutrition committees at all levels (regional, provincial, city, municipal, and barangay).

1960

- Organization of the National Coordinating Council on Food and Nutrition (NCCFN) under the leadership of Dr. Conrado R. Pascual who succeeded Dr. Salcedo as Director of FNRC.

- This marked the first organized attempt to coordinate the nutrition activities of various sectors of government (notably health, education, agriculture, and science) as well as of private organizations towards a single goal - improvement of the nutritional status of people.

- Start of operations of the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines (NFP) which was founded by Dr. Juan Salcedo in 1959. The NFP pioneered in the organization of community nutrition councils which became the prototype present-day nutrition committees.

1961

- Publication of the first Food Composition Table undertaken by FNRC, UPLB, and PWU.

1969

- Established the National Nutrition Program office under the Department of Health, later named National Nutrition Service (NNS).

- Creation of the Nutrition Service under the Department of Health. This strengthened the public health nutrition program of the Department.

1971

- Start of functional coordination with the signing of Executive Order No. 285, giving the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC) the responsibility of coordinating nutrition programs.

- Formulation of the first four-year Philippine Food and Nutrition Program (1971-1974).

1974

- Creation of the National Nutrition Council (NNC), with Dr. Florentino Solon as first Executive Director, by P.D. 491 which also declared nutrition as a priority concern of government.

- Establishment of the Nutrition Center of the Philippines, a private foundation (with Dr. Solon as Executive Director) which
supports the country's nutrition program through the Development and testing of nutrition delivery approaches, trainings, development of NIE materials and training modules, research, etc.

1976

- Issuance of Letter of Instruction (LOI) No. 441 instructing the Department of Local Government, now the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to establish functional nutrition committees in every region, province, city, municipality and barangay.

1977

- Enactment of P.D. 1286, Nutrition and Dietetics Decree of 1977 requiring hospitals to hire licensed or registered NDs and that
each province, city, municipal and rural health unit should hire at least one RND.

1978

- Enactment of PD 1569 strengthens the Barangay Nutrition Program by providing a Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) per barangay who shall be responsible for delivering nutrition services and related activities.

- PD 1567 Baranggay Day Care Center Law. It provides that in every barangay with at least 100 family heads residing in one place shall establish daycare center

1981

- Revision of the nutrition curriculum to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of graduates in various allied disciplines.

1983

- Organization of the Inter-Organization Committee on Nutrition (ICON) composed of the 3 professional organizations namely PAN, NDAP, and PSND with NNC as an adviser.

- Organization of the Council of Deans and Heads of Nutrition and Dietetics (CODHEND) to oversee the implementation of the BSND program in colleges and universities in the Philippines.

1986

- Reaffirmation of the need for an intersectoral national policy making and coordinating body on nutrition.

- Transfer of the NNC as an attached agency to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

- Promulgation of EO234 (Reorganization Act of NNC)

1987

- Establishment of Nutrition Center of the Philippines, a private foundation which supports Nutrition delivery approaches, trainings, and development of materials with Dr. Florentino Solo as Executive Director.

1988

- Return of NNC as attached agency to the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the issuance of Administrative Order No. 88 thus assumes the chairmanship of NNC.

- EO 51 "Milk Code" Adapting a National Code of Marketing of a Breast milk substitute. Supplements and related products,
penalizing violations thereof and for other purposes.

EO 51

Milk Code of the Philippines

1991

- RA 7160 Local Government Code. LGU became responsible for Nutrition Action Plan and Implementation especially in the delivery of Nutrition and related services.

RA 7160 Local Government Code

- Transfer of responsibility of health service provisions to the local government units.

1992

- RA 7394 Consumer Act of Philippines. It protects the interest of consumer and promotes their general welfare.

- RA 7600 An act providing incentives to all government and private health institution with rooming-in and breastfeeding. Placing the baby in the same room as the mother right after delivery, a national policy to protect and support breast feeding.

RA 7394 Consumer Act of Philippines

- An act providing penalties for manufacture, distribution and sales of adulterated foods, drugs and cosmetics.

RA 7600

- Rooming In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992.

1993

- Launching of the Araw ng Sangkap Pinoy (ASAP)

1994

- Launching of Give Me Five, a multimedia campaign led by the private sector to encourage Filipinos to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday especially those rich in vitamins A and C, and Iron.

- Organization of KAIN (Koalisyon para Alagaan at Isalba ang Nutrisyon), a coalition of nutrition non-government organizations (NGOs)

1995

- RA 8172 ASIN Law. An Act promoting Salt Ionization Nationwide. It mandates the ionization of all salt for human and animal consumption.

RA 8172 ASIN Law

- primarily aims to help contribute in eliminating iodine deficiency in food preparation.

1997

- Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act. Provides the modernization for agriculture and fisheries
- RA 8435

RA 8435

- Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997

2000

- RA 8976 An Act establishing the Philippines Food Fortification Program. Mandate the fortification of Staples (Rice - iron; Flour - Iron and vit. A; oil and sugar and iron - Vit. A). Provides for voluntary fortification through the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program of DOH

RA 8976

Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000

2005

- Transfer of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Department of Health (DOH).