Public Health Nutrition Milestones in the Philippines

Spanish Regime

1577 A dispensary was set up by Fr. Juan Clemente for treating indigents; 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 Established of school midwifery.

1884 Koniger gave an account of an epidemic of beriberi (types: infantile, wet, dry) in Manila in 1882-1883 and stated that the disease

had not been known there previously. (However in 1913, Vedder cited references to the disease in Spanish documents ranging in date from 1609-1669).

American Regime1898 Establishment of Board of Health; concerns included control of epidemics and infectious diseases, beriberi and sanitation.

1904 A disease called “taon”, “taol” or “suba” afflicting infants was described by Manuel Guerrero; the symptoms were those of

infantile beriberi as earlier described by Hirota, a Japanese investigator. This was later confirmed by Jose Albert (1910).1905 Creation of Bureau of Science.1907 Establishment of College of Medicine under the University of the Philippines.

1910

Founding of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). These three institutions, the Bureau of Science, College of Medicine, and PGH became centers of scientific instruction and research, particularly 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 – by Vedder, Chamberlain, Quintos, and Guerrero.1914 Enactment of a law providing for the free distribution of tiqui-tiqui (tiki-tiki) to indigent mother.

1916 – 1936

The 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. The public health and social welfare program of the Bureau of Health (under Department of Instruction) included maternal and

child health, employment, nutrition, recreation, sanitation, and leprosy control. Studies directly related to nutrition include food composition and height/weight standards.The National Research Council was

organized (1934) to promote a comprehensive program of research in the basic sciences which included public health.

The Commonwealth Regime (1936-1942)

Creation of the Department of Health and Welfare, with Dr. Jose Fabella as first Secretary. o Public health activities included research in and control of contagious disease and maternal and child health.o Priorities for government spending for health included construction of additional leprosaria; rehabilitation of the PGH; drilling

of artesan wells, waterworks; public markets and slaughterhouses. 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.

Japanese Occupation (1942-1946)

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

A Board of Nutritional Research was created in 1943. Food research focused on utilization of non-traditional foods.

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Post World War II to Present

1947

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

Creation of the Philippine Institute of Nutrition (PIN), with Dr. Juan Salcedo, Jr. as 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 the beginning of series of experiments

and activities which became collectively known as 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 of 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 baranggay with at least 100 family heads residing in one place shall establish day care 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 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 poicy 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.

1991 RA 7160 Local Government Code. LGU became responsible for Nutrition Action Plan and Implementation especially in the delivery

of Nutrition and related services.

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.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.

1997 Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act. Provides the modernization for agriculture and fisheries RA 8435

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 DOH2005 Transfer of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Department of Health (DOH).