Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __ 4616
Introduced by Representative Romulo “Kid” Pefia, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the survey conducted by the Social Weather Station last March 2019,
it was found that 9.5% or an estimated 2.3 million Filipino families
experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months. In the
survey, the dire situation of hunger was specifically attributed to the lack of
food to eat.

Worldwide, 900 million people were exposed to severe level of food
insecurity according to the latest estimates of the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) in 2018.

These figures manifest food insecurity but, on the contrary, each
Filipino is said to waste an average of 3.29kg or rice alone per year. Food loss
also happens before consumption such as during agricultural production. The
gap between the food produced and the food made available to all are the food
wastes that could possibly feed the millions of hungry Filipino families.

Food wastage poses both economic and environmental concerns if we
consider the costs of deforestation, soil erosion, increased greenhouse gases,
and reduced profits for farmers, among others.

Accordingly, this bill aims to end food wastage and through a National
Zero Food Waste Campaign that intends to educate on the current food waste
situation and on reducing food wastes. It also seeks to create national and local
food waste prevention programs. In addressing the losses from production,


this bill encourages households and local government units to recycle inedible
food waste into fertilizers or compost.

This bill also intends to prohibit any food establishment (fast food,
restaurant, carinderia, etc.) and supermarkets from throwing away edible food
and instead donate them to food banks and charity homes. Food
establishments, in return, are given tax incentives by exempting them from
donor's tax and shall be considered as an allowable deduction from their gross
income.

This bill, once enacted, hopes to pioneer laws among countries,
especially developing countries such as the Philippines, in doing our part in
ending world hunger.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

ROMULO “KIp* PENA, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 4616

Introduced by Representative Romulo “Kid” Pejia, Jr.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND
RECYCLING FOOD WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Zero Food
Waste Act".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes that each
person has a right to an adequate standard of living, including to 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 waste and the considerable number of people
going hungry daily is a breach that this Act intends to correct.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following
terms shall mean:

a. Food insecure - persons or group 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

d. Food-related businesses - public and private businesses involved in
the manufacturing and processing of food products (i.e. food
manufacturers), private businesses involved in the wholesaling and
retailing of food products (i.e. supermarkets), and private businesses
involved in serving food product (i.e. restaurants, cafeterias, and
hotels)

e. Food banks - non-profit, charitable or other social mission-driven
organizations that distribute food to the food insecure

f. Inedible food waste - food discarded in the retail and consumption
stages, determined to be unfit for consumption based on standards
set by the National Nutrition Council

g. Waste management and recycling enterprises - organizations that
manage inedible food waste by converting there into fertilizers or
compost

SECTION 4. National Zero Food Waste Campaign. - The National
Nutrition Council (NNC), in close coordination with the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd),
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Health
(DOH), other concerned agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs), is
hereby tasked to undertake a National Zero Food Waste Campaign to raise
awareness about the consequences of wasted food, the Zero Food Waste Act,
and the food waste reduction efforts required of food-related businesses and
households through the LGUs. The Campaign shall also promote the food
waste reduction hierarchy, and recommend means of reducing individual food
waste.


DepEd shall have the duty to ensure that the education curriculum
includes materials on the current global and national food waste situation, on
ways to reduce food waste, on national and local food waste prevention
programs, and regarding the provisions of this Act. DTI shall encourage food-
related businesses to purchase lower-price, non-standard size or shape
produce to be used in their food products.

SECTION 5. Food-related Business Waste Reduction Strategy. -
Food-related businesses such as food manufacturers, supermarkets,
restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels are hereby required to:

a. Submit an initial report to the DSWD and DENR that contains data
on the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste in the
past year, organized according to the manner of
disposal including donation, composting or discarding.

b. Submit an annual report to the DSWD and DENR that contains data
on the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste in the
immediately precedent year, organized according to the manner of
disposal, including donation, composting, or discarding.

c. Enter into a contract with food banks to redistribute edible food
waste to the food insecure.

d. Shoulder the costs of transporting edible food waste from business
location to the food bank's warehouse or distribution center.

e. Ensure that edible food waste is unadulterated and in good condition
upon arrival at the food bank's distribution center.

f. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling
enterprises to recycle inedible food waste into fertilizer or compost.

g. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from
collection areas to waste management sites.

h. Reach and maintain food waste levels at the target set by the DENR.


SECTION 6. National Zero Food Waste Scheme. - DSWD, as the
coordinating agency between the food businesses and food banks, shall:

a. Provide guidelines and standards for the collection, storage, and
distribution of edible food donated to food banks.

b. Ensure that food businesses have entered into contracts with food
banks and issue acceptance certificates to food businesses.

c. Promote linkages between food banks and LGUs to create a
community-based food distribution system for the food insecure.

d. Create a Self-Sufficiency Program that will provide the food
insecure with skills training on managing food banks and livelihood
programs to avoid the dependence on donation solely.

SECTION 7. Household and Local Government Unit Waste
Reduction Strategy. - LGUs are hereby required to:

a. Submit an initial report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of
inedible food waste that can be recycled as raw material for
fertilizers or comport to DENR.

b. Submit an annual report that contains data on the amount (in tons)
of inedible food waste that has been recycled as raw material for
fertilizers or compost to the DENR.

c. Initiate waste segregation efforts per household through local
campaigns.

d. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling
enterprises to recycle inedible food waste from households into
fertilizer or compost.

e. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste form
collection areas to waste management sites.

f. Reach and maintain inedible food waste levels at the target set by
DENR.


SECTION 8. Penal Provisions/Penalties. - The penalty of prision
correccional will be imposed on any individual, private or public, who
deliberately makes food waste unfit for consumption. The same penalty is
applicable to private or public actors who prevent the redirection of edible
food waste to food banks or inedible food waste to waste management and
recycling enterprises.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the National Nutrition Council, in
coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of
Education, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Health,
and other relevant government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 10. Periodic Review. - The implementing agencies shall
submit an annual report to Congress on the progress in the implementation of
this Act.

SECTION 11. Appropriations. - The funds needed to implement this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and
effectivity of the other provisions hereof.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders
and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers
of general circulation.

Approved,