Wednesday, 06 July 2011 01:55
Rep. Rodolfo Antonino (4th District, Nueva Ecija) said House Bill 4638 seeks to amend Presidential Decree 1286 or the Nutrition and Dietetics Decree of 1977. "The bill will ensure that our nutrition-dietetics are globally competitive, updated and up to par vis-à-vis their Asian counterparts," Antonino, author of the bill, said.
The bill shall govern, supervise and regulate the examinations, registration and licensure of nutritionist-dietitians, develop their competence through Continuing Professional Education (CPE) and integrate the profession, according to Antonino.
Antonino said the practice of nutrition and dietetics involves the academe, business and industry, food production and product development, food service, hospitals, community and public health nutrition, food and nutrition research and wellness and sports nutrition.
"People take for granted the important roles nutritionists and dietitians play in their everyday lives—they are the policemen of our nutrition and diets. They compose our menus and nutrition intake, they make sure hospital patients' food is not too salty or sweet, particularly for diabetics or those with high blood problems," Antonino said.
The bill provides that an applicant for licensure examination for nutritionist-dietitian shall be a Filipino citizen or a foreigner whose country or state has reciprocity with the Philippines in nutrition and dietetics; of good moral character, has a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics or its equivalent duly recognized by Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
It also requires colleges and universities offering nutrition and dietetics courses to have faculty members who are registered nutritionist-dietitians.
Under the bill, all hospitals with 10-15 or 25-50 bed capacity are mandated to employ a minimum of one full-time RD and two for hospitals with higher bed capacities. LGUs with at least 50,000-population for each province, city/municipality and rural health unit must have at least one RND.
The bill provides that only RDs may teach RD courses in allied fields like medicine, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, human kinetics and physical education.
Likewise, fitness centers and other related businesses with at least eight to 10 clients shall employ a full-or part-time RD.
Under the bill, the Professional Regulatory Board of Nutrition and Dietetics (PRBND) may withhold, revoke or suspend a certificate of registration of a Registered Nutritionist and Dietitians (RND) or successful examinee or cancel a temporary or special permit of a foreign nutritionist-dietitian for violations of the proposed act.
Punishable acts also include gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance resulting in death, damage or injury, failure to pay fees for five consecutive years, aiding or abetting illegal practice, practicing the profession while under suspension, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.
The bill prohibits the practice of the profession without a valid certificate, attempting to use the seal, certificate and/or professional identification card of an RND or temporary permit issued to foreign practitioners, abetting illegal practices, securing a certificate through false means an ID or temporary permit and impersonating an RND.
Violators face a fine of not more than P500,000 or jail term of more than two years or both upon discretion of the court.
Source: http://www.congress.gov.ph
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
