1. 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 Regime
1898 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.
.
Post World War II to Present

2. 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,

3. 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
DOH
2005 Transfer of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Department of Health (DOH).