NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
240
i0fficp o{ tlir rtiup
72 JUL11 P3:48
RtCElViOm;
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND RECYCLING FOOD 
WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The problem of food security and food waste in the country is evidently rising. 
The practice of ''pcigpag" or recooked food that was recovered from garbage is 
widespread in Filipino households who cannot afford three square meals daily.
In a recent Social Weather Station survey, approximately 3.1 million Filipinos 
or 12.2% of the country7s total population experience hunger during the first quarter 
of 2022. According to the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, they have 
recorded the highest number of deaths due to malnutrition from January to October 
2021, with a total death of 4,844 Filipinos. In addition, amidst the COVID-19 
pandemic, the Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey conducted by the Food and 
Nutrition Research Institute data stated that 62.1% of Filipino households experienced 
moderate to severe food insecurity in 2020.
According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021, each household in the 
country wastes around 9,334,477 tons of food annually. The current data on food 
waste could at least feed the 3.1 million hungry Filipinos per year.


Our country is rich in resources of food, yet millions of Filipinos cannot afford 
three meals a day. The excess edible supply of food must be highlighted and utilized 
in order to feed the millions of hungry Filipinos. This would help alleviate not only 
the problem of food security but also food waste.
In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
GARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of tl)e
•22 JUL11 P3 48
SENATE
s.No. 240
RKcavram:
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
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AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND RECYCLING FOOD 
WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as the "Zero Food Waste Act of
2022."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes that each person has a right 
to an adequate standard of living, including sufficient food. It is hereby declared a 
policy of the State to safeguard food security, end hunger, and promote the efficient 
use of the country's food resources.
Towards this end, the State shall adopt a system to promote, facilitate, and ensure 
the reduction of food waste through redistribution and recycling. The massive amount 
of food wasted and the considerable number of people going hungry daily is a breach 
that this Act intends to correct.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
a. Food insecure - persons or groups of persons who have difficulty 
producing or purchasing food to avoid hunger
b. Edible food waste - food discarded in the retail and consumption stages, 
determined to be fit for consumption based on standards set by the 
National Nutrition Council
c. Food waste reduction - the decrease of food waste generation, the 
redistribution of food waste to the food insecure or the recycling of food 
as fertilizer or compost


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d. Food-related businesses - public and private businesses involved in the
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manufacturing and processing of food products (i.e. food
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manufacturers), private businesses involved in the wholesaling and
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retailing of food products (i.e. restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels)
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e. Food banks - non-profit, charitable or other social mission-driven
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organizations that distribute food to the food insecure
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f. Inedible food waste - food discarded in the retail and consumption stages,
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determined to be unfit for consumption based on standards set by the
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National Nutrition Council
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g. Waste management and recycling enterprises - organizations that manage
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inedible food waste by converting these into fertilizers or compost.
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Sec. 4. National Zero Food Waste Campaign. - The National Nutrition Council
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(NCC), in close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural
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Resources (DENR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the
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Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the
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Department of Health (DOH), other concerned agencies and Local Government Units
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(LGUs), is hereby tasked to undertake a National Zero Food Waste Campaign to raise
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awareness about the Zero Food Waste Act, the consequences of wasted food, and the
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food waste reduction efforts required of food-related business and households
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through the LGUs. The Campaign shall also promote the food waste reduction
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hierarchy and recommend means of reducing individual food waste.
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DepEd shall have the duty to ensure that the education curriculum includes
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materials on the current global and national food waste situation, ways to reduce food
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waste, national and local food waste prevention programs, and the provisions of this
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Act. DTI shall encourage food-related businesses to purchase lower-price, non-
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standard size or shape produce to be used in their food products.
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Sec. 5. Food-related Business Waste Reduction Strategy. - Food-related businesses
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such as food manufacturers, supermarkets, restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels are
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hereby required to:
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a. Submit an initial report to the DSWD and DENR that contains data on
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the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste in the past


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year, organized according to the manner of disposal, including
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donation, composting or discarding.
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b. Submit an initial report to the DSWD and DENR that contains data on
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the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste in the
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immediate precedent year, organized according to the manner of
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disposal, including donation, composting or discarding.
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c. Enter into a contract with food banks to redistribute edible food waste
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to the food insecure.
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d. Shoulder the costs of transporting edible food waste from the business
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location to the food bank's warehouse or distribution center.
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e. Ensure that edible food waste is unadulterated and in good condition
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upon arrival at the food bank's distribution center.
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f. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises
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to recycle inedible food waste into fertilizer or compost.
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g. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from collection
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areas to waste management sites.
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h. Reach and maintain food waste levels at the target set by the DENR.
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Sec. 6. National Zero Food Waste Scheme. - DSWD, as the coordinating agency
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between the food businesses and food banks, shall:
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a. Provide guidelines and standards for the collection, storage, and
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distribution of edible food donated to food banks.
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b. Ensure that the food businesses have entered into contracts with food
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banks and issue acceptance certificates to food businesses.
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c. Promote linkages between food banks and LGUs to create a community-
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based food distribution system for the food insecure.
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d. Create a Self-Sufficiency Program that will provide the food insecure
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with skills training on managing food banks and livelihood programs to
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avoid the dependence on donations solely.
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Sec. 7. Household and Local Government Unit Waste Reduction Strategy. - LGUs
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are hereby required to:


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a. Submit an initial report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of
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inedible food waste that can be recycled as raw material for fertilizers or
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compost to DENR.
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b. Submit an initial report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of
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inedible food waste that has been recycled as raw material for fertilizers
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or compost to DENR.
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c. Initiate waste segregation efforts per household through local
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campaigns.
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d. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises
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to recycle inedible food waste from households into fertilizer or
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compost.
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e. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from collection
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areas to waste management sites.
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f. Reachandmaintaininediblefood waste levels at the target set by DENR.
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Sec. 8. Penal Provisions/Penalties. - The penalty of prison correccional will be
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imposed on any individual, private or public, who deliberately makes food waste
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unfit for consumption. The same penalty is applicable to private or public actors who
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prevent the redirection of edible food waste to food banks or inedible food waste to
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waste management and recycling enterprises.
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Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
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effectivity of this Act, the National Nutrition Council, in coordination with the
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of
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Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Education (DepEd),
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the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Health (DOH), and
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other relevant government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
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regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 10. Periodic Review. - The implementing agencies shall submit an annual
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report to Congress on the progress in the implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The funds needed to implement this Act shall be
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included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


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Sec. 12. Separability Clause, - Should any part or provision of this Act be
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declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not otherwise
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affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations or any part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
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are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon publication in the Official
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Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,