RA 11148 was enacted into law last 29 November 2018 as “ An Act Scaling Up the National and Local Health and Nutrition Programs Through A Strengthened Integrated Strategy for Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Nutrition in the First One Thousand (1000) Days of Life, Appropriating Funds Therefore, and for Other Purposes”. Generally, the policy aims to scale up nutrition intervention programs in the first one thousand (1000) days of a child’s life, and allocate resources in the sustainable manner to improve the nutritional status and address the malnutrition of infants and young children from zero (0) to two (2) years old, adolescent females, pregnant, and lactating women to ensure growth and development of infants and young children. This will provide a comprehensive, sustainable, multisectoral strategies and approaches to address health and nutrition problems of newborns, infants and young children, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent females by providing policy environment, evidence-based nutrition interventions, and institutionalized first 1000 days program in all development plans of both the national and local government.

The policy also mandated the Department of Health, the National Nutrition Council, Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to create the implementing rules and regulation of the policy. It shall cover all nutritionally-at-risk population, with focus on pregnant and lactating women, all Filipino children who are newly born up to two years of age. The policy should also prioritized population living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), unserved and underserved communities such as the indigenous people, areas with high prevalence of malnutrition, persons in the vulnerable sectors, and those communities affected by a crisis or arm conflict.

RA 11148 also identifies all the services needed for the first 1000 days of life, from prenatal check-ups, immunization of pregnant and children, dietary supplementation programs for the target groups, training of health and nutrition workers, provision of other health and nutrition services, psychosocial stimulation, and provision of other assistance that each stakeholder may offer. It also clarifies the role of each national government agencies and partners in the implementation of the program. - EMArcinue