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( RECEIVED
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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress.
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _8426

Introduced by Honorable Roger G. Mercado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Since the issuance of Executive Order No. 101, Series of 2020, the
implementation of a wholesome approach in attaining zero hunger
presents a policy that is worth institutionalizing,

While it is true that E.O. 101 has initially given life to the Task
Force on zero hunger, the continuity of the policy hinges on the sitting
President and is at risk of being discontinued once another administration
will sit in. This bill if enacted will ensure the continuity of the fight
against hunger under the Whole-of-Nation approach.

Therefore, passage of this bill is hereby being earnestly sought.

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ROGER GAVIOLA MERCADO:


Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _8426

Introduced by Honorable Roger G. Mercado

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE WHOLE OF NATION APPROACH IN ATTAINING ZERO
HUNGER THEREBY CREATING A NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON ZERO HUNGER

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. Section 11, Article XIII of the Constitution provides
that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development, which shalt endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social
services available to all the people at affordable cost.

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Paragraph 2, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights provides that States Parties recognize the fundamental right of everyone to be free
from hunger, and shall take, individually and through intemational cooperation, measures to
improve the methods of production, conservation and distribution of food.

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SECTION 2. Creation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger. The Inter-
Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger (Task Force) is hereby created, to be composed of the
following:

Chairperson : The Cabinet Secretary
Vice Chairperson: Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development
Members : Secretary, Department of Agriculture

Secretary, Department of Agrarian Reform;

Secretary, Department of Budget and Management

Secretary, Department of Education

Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural
Resources

‘Secretary, Department of Health

Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment

Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government

Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry

Secretary, Department of Science and Technology

Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office

Director General, National Economic and Development
Authority

Chairperson, Commission on Higher Authority

The Task Force members may designate an altemate, with a rank not lower than an
Assistant Secretary, to represent their respective offices in the Task Force, provided that
the alternate must be fully authorized to decide on behalf of the member.

SECTION 3. Powers and Functions. The Task Force shall ensure that government
policies, initiatives and projects in attaining zero hunger shall be coordinated,
responsive and effective. Towards this end, the Task Force shall have the following

powers and functions:


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a) Formulate a National Food Policy (NFP), which shall outline national priorities

based on a comprehensive understanding of the problem of hunger and related

issues, and shall provide a roadmap for achieving zero hunger, taking into
consideration existing laws and issuances, as well as international law and treaty
obligations. The NFP shall include initiatives for ending hunger, achieving food

‘security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture;

Coordinate and rationalize the efforts of concerned government agencies and

instrumentalities to ensure a whole-of-nation approach to attaining hunger;

Monitor and evaluate, through the identification of key performance indicators, the

government's progress in ending hunger, achieving food security, improving

nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture;

d) Create technical working groups from among its member-agencies to address
particular concems relative to the implementation of this Act;

e) Prepare and submit to the President annual reports on the state of hunger, food
‘security, nutrition and agriculture production in the country as well as the Task
Force initiatives and recommendations relative thereto; and

) Perform such other functions as may be directed by the President.

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SECTION 4. Secretariat. The Task Force shall have a Secretariat to be composed of
personnel from the member-agencies, which shall provide administrative, operational
and technical assistance to the Task Force.

SECTION 5. Support of Government Agencies. The Task Force may enlist the support
and assistance of other government agencies and instrumentalities in the attainment
of the objectives of this Act. Local government units are enjoined to render such
necessary assistance to the Task Force in the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. Funding. The initial funding requirements for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged against current appropriations of the member-agencies of the
Task Force. The budgetary requirements for the succeeding years shall be included
in the annual budget proposals of the concemed agencies.


SECTION 7. Separability. if any provision of this Act is declared invalid, illegal or
unconstitutional, the provisions not thereby affected shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances
or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,