1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
First Regular Session 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
House Bill No. 849
8 
9 
10 
Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
11 
12 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
13 
14 
15 
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that globally, roughly one-third of 
16 
food produced for human consumption—about 1.3 billion tons annually—is lost or 
17 
wasted. Meanwhile, nearly 821 million people suffer from hunger worldwide. In the 
18 
Philippines, chronic food insecurity persists alongside significant food waste in the 
19 
retail, hospitality, and household sectors. Studies by the Food and Nutrition Research 
20 
Institute show alarming malnutrition rates among Filipino children, while Social 
21 
Weather Stations surveys report millions of families experiencing involuntary hunger. 
22 
23 
Food waste not only undermines food security but contributes to environmental 
24 
degradation, accounting for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions due to 
25 
methane from landfills. This dual challenge threatens our national goals on hunger 
26 
eradication and climate action. 
27 
28 
Existing efforts focus mainly on food redistribution but overlook critical measures such 
29 
as source reduction, monitoring, consumer education, and integration with climate 
30 
targets. To align with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3—halving per capita food waste 
31 
by 2030—this bill establishes a comprehensive national framework prioritizing 
32 
prevention, efficient redistribution, and responsible recycling of food waste. It 
33 
introduces mandatory Food Waste Prevention Plans, national reduction targets, tax 
34 
incentives, standards for food banks, and stronger food safety measures to ensure 
35 
surplus food reaches those in need safely and sustainably. 
36 
37 
The immediate enactment of this measure is earnestly sought. 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
43 
44 
July 1, 2025
2:20 pm


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
First Regular Session 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
                    House Bill No. 849 
8 
9 
10 
Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
11 
12 
13 
AN ACT REDUCING FOOD WASTE THROUGH FOOD DONATIONS, FOOD 
14 
WASTE RECYCLING, AND SOURCE REDUCTION, ESTABLISHING 
15 
NATIONAL TARGETS AND INCENTIVES, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
16 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
17 
18 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
19 
assembled: 
20 
21 
SECTION 1. Short Title. 
22 
This Act shall be known as the “Food Waste Reduction and Prevention Act.” 
23 
24 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. 
25 
The State recognizes every person’s right to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food as part 
26 
of an adequate standard of living. It is the policy of the State to attain food security, end 
27 
hunger, protect the environment by reducing food waste, and promote the efficient use 
28 
of food resources. The State shall adopt a national system to prevent, reduce, 
29 
redistribute, and recycle food waste, including mandatory food donations, source 
30 
reduction programs, and integration with climate mitigation efforts. 
31 
32 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act: 
33 
34 
a) Edible Food Surplus – Excess food determined fit for consumption based on
35 
NNC and FDA standards;
36 
b) Inedible Food Surplus – Food unfit for consumption per NNC and FDA
37 
standards, including expired prepackaged food;
38 
c) Food Insecure – Persons or groups lacking reliable access to sufficient food;
39 
d) Food-Related Business – Entities in food manufacturing, processing, retail, or
40 
culinary education;
41 
e) Food Bank – Nonprofit or social-mission organizations distributing food to the
42 
food insecure;
43 
f) Food Waste Prevention Plan – A documented strategy by a food-related
44 
business outlining actions to avoid generating food surplus at the source;
45 


g) Waste Management and Recycling Enterprises – Organizations converting 
1 
inedible food waste into compost, fertilizer, or energy; 
2 
h) Food Surplus Management Hierarchy – The preferred order of managing 
3 
surplus: (1) prevention at source; (2) redistribution for human consumption; (3) 
4 
use as animal feed; (4) recycling; (5) disposal as last resort. 
5 
 
6 
 
7 
SECTION 4. Covered Establishments. This Act applies to: 
8 
a) Food manufacturers, subject to exemptions from existing restrictions when 
9 
donating surplus; 
10 
b) Restaurants, cafes, diners, fast food chains, hotels; 
11 
c) Supermarkets with at least 500 square meters of selling space; 
12 
d) Culinary schools with at least 50 students. 
13 
 
14 
SECTION 5. Determination of Food Insecure Individuals or Groups 
15 
The DSWD, in coordination with LGUs, shall set criteria to identify food-insecure 
16 
individuals or groups. 
17 
 
18 
SECTION 6. National Food Surplus Campaign and Consumer Awareness. 
19 
The NNC, DSWD, DILG, DENR, DepEd, DTI, DOH, DA, FDA, and LGUs shall conduct a 
20 
nationwide campaign to raise awareness on food waste, its impacts, and strategies to 
21 
reduce waste starting at household level. The DepEd shall include in its curriculum: 
22 
a) Current food waste situation; 
23 
b) Waste reduction methods; 
24 
c) National/local waste prevention programs; 
25 
d) Food recovery concepts; 
26 
e) Provisions of this Act. 
27 
 
28 
Consumer Labeling: DTI and DepEd shall require clear labeling of “best before” and “use 
29 
by” dates on packaged food and provide education materials distinguishing these to 
30 
reduce household waste. 
31 
 
32 
SECTION 7. Edible Food Surplus Distribution Steps. 
33 
Covered establishments shall: 
34 
a) Segregate edible and inedible food surplus; 
35 
b) Food manufacturers may segregate at supermarkets; 
36 
c) LGU health inspectors shall certify edible surplus ’fitness for consumption; 
37 
d) Certified edible surplus shall be donated to accredited food banks designated 
38 
by DSWD; 
39 
e) Food banks shall distribute donations to food-insecure beneficiaries; 
40 
f) Food banks shall comply with FDA and DOH standards for storage, handling, 
41 
hygiene, and maintain donation records for six (6) months for traceability. 
42 
 
43 
SECTION 8. Food-Related Business Waste Reduction Strategy and Prevention. 
44 
Covered businesses shall: 
45 
a) Submit annual reports to DSWD and DENR detailing amounts and disposal 
46 
methods for edible and inedible surplus; 
47 


b) Enter into contracts with accredited food banks; 
1 
c) Ensure edible surplus is unadulterated and safe upon arrival at food banks; 
2 
d) Submit and implement a Food Waste Prevention Plan outlining measures to 
3 
reduce overproduction, improve inventory management, forecast demand, and 
4 
train staff on waste prevention; 
5 
e) Businesses achieving a ≥20% reduction in annual edible surplus at source shall 
6 
be entitled to tax deductions equivalent to 150% of documented investments in 
7 
prevention measures. 
8 
 
9 
SECTION 9. National Food Surplus Scheme and Food Bank Certification. 
10 
The DSWD shall coordinate redistribution by: 
11 
a) Issuing guidelines for collection, storage, and distribution of donated food; 
12 
b) Ensuring contracts between businesses and food banks, issuing acceptance 
13 
certificates; 
14 
c) Promoting partnerships with LGUs for community-based distribution; 
15 
d) Developing a Self-Sufficiency Program to train food-insecure persons in food 
16 
bank operations and livelihood; 
17 
e) Accrediting food banks through a Food Bank Certification Program setting 
18 
standards on storage, hygiene, facilities, and staff training with annual 
19 
inspections. 
20 
 
21 
SECTION 10. Responsibilities of Local Government Units. 
22 
LGUs shall: 
23 
a) Submit annual reports to DENR on amounts of inedible food surplus 
24 
recyclable as fertilizer or compost; 
25 
b) Lead household-level waste segregation campaigns; 
26 
c) Shoulder costs of transporting inedible surplus to recycling sites; 
27 
d) Contract with waste management enterprises to recycle inedible waste; 
28 
e) Maintain inedible waste levels within DENR-set targets; 
29 
f) Support community composting and animal feeding as intermediate steps. 
30 
 
31 
SECTION 11. Accreditation and Training of Health Inspectors. 
32 
DOH, with FDA, shall conduct training for LGU health inspectors on proper 
33 
segregation, assessment, and food safety standards. 
34 
 
35 
SECTION 12. Supervision. 
36 
NNC, in coordination with DSWD, shall supervise implementation and enforcement. 
37 
 
38 
SECTION 13. Liability Protection. 
39 
Food donors are exempt from civil or criminal liability once donations have been 
40 
accepted by accredited food banks or distributed to farms. 
41 
 
42 
SECTION 14. Prohibition of Reselling Donated Surplus. 
43 
Reselling donated food surplus is strictly prohibited. Violators shall face the penalty of 
44 
prision mayor. If the offender is a juridical entity, its responsible officers shall be liable. 
45 
 
46 
SECTION 15. Penalties. 
47 


A fine of ₱500,000 shall apply to anyone who renders edible surplus unfit for 
1 
consumption or obstructs redistribution. Fines escalate per offense: 
2 
1. 1st offense: ₱1,000,000 
3 
2. 2nd: ₱1,500,000 
4 
3. 3rd: ₱2,000,000 
5 
4. 4th: ₱3,000,000 
6 
5. 5th and subsequent: ₱5,000,000 
7 
 
8 
SECTION 16. National Food Waste Reduction Targets and Climate Reporting. 
9 
a) The DA, in consultation with NEDA, DSWD, and DENR, shall establish a 
10 
national target to reduce food waste by at least 50% by 2030, consistent with UN 
11 
SDG 12.3; 
12 
b) NNC shall conduct annual food waste inventories and publish progress 
13 
reports; 
14 
c) DENR shall estimate and report greenhouse gas emissions avoided through 
15 
food waste reduction annually. 
16 
 
17 
SECTION 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
18 
Within 60 days of effectivity, NNC, DSWD, DILG, DENR, DOST, DepEd, DOH, DA, 
19 
FDA, and DTI shall promulgate IRR. 
20 
 
21 
SECTION 18. Separability Clause. 
22 
If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, other provisions not affected shall remain 
23 
in full force and effect. 
24 
 
25 
SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. 
26 
All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative 
27 
orders, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended 
28 
accordingly. 
29 
 
30 
SECTION 20. Effectivity. 
31 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of 
32 
general circulation. 
33 
 
34 
 
35 
 
36 
Approved, 
37