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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 4450

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to a survey conducted in March 2019 by the Social Weather Survey
(SWS), 2.3 million Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger due to poverty. The
latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, on the other hand, show that a Filipino
household wastes 1.676 kg of rice annually, translating to a total country loss of 38.507
million kg, valued at P1.617 billion.

While there is no available local data on food wastes from food establishments,
it is reasonable to presume that if households are throwing away food at such a
staggering volume, the food being wasted by food establishments, maybe equal, if not
more.

Certainly, such food being wasted by food establishments can instead be utilized
to help reduce hunger. In this regard, it is necessary for the State to campaign for zero
food wastage. Moreover, there is a need to prohibit food establishments from throwing
away unsold food and instead mandate its donation to food-deprived individuals.

\tis therefore proposed that food establishments shall donate any and all unsold
food to recipients who directly assist indigents and the food-deprived sectors of
society. There shall also be corresponding penalties for violators of this Act.

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

Gv”

RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Partylist

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4450

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

AN ACT
MANDATING FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS TO DONATE ANY AND ALL
UNSPOILED AND UNSOLD FOOD TO RECIPIENTS CATERING TO THE FOOD-
DEPRIVED SECTORS OF SOCIETY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall also be known as the “Zero Food
Waste Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall campaign for zero food
wastage and shall promote the absolute utilization of all unspoiled and unsold food to
address hunger.

The State shall mandate food establishments to donate all unspoiled and
unsold food to recipients directly catering to the food deprived sectors of society.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — The following terms as used in this Act:

a) Food establishments shall refer to any establishment engaged in the buying,
selling, and manufacturing of food for the consumption of the general public.
It shall include, but not limited to, restaurants, fast food, groceries,
convenience stores, supermarkets, catering services, hotels, bakeries,
factories, and other similar establishments; and

b) Food donations shall refer to unspoiled and unsold food, and clean leftovers
from food establishments which shall be donated to the recipients specified
under Section 6 of this Act.

SEC. 4. Food Establishments. — Food establishments shall donate any and
all unspoiled and unsold food to the recipients specified under Section 6 of this Act.
Food establishments shall include but not limited to, restaurants, fast food, groceries,
convenience stores, supermarkets, catering services, hotels, bakeries, factories and
other similar establishments.

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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall set the parameters which
shall include the number of employees, average daily food production, and average
daily clientele, whichever is applicable in determining which food establishments shall
be required to donate their unsold and unspoiled food products to the recipients
specified in Section 6 of this Act.

SEC. 5. Food Donations. — To reduce food wastage and maximize the
utilization of food, the establishments covered by this Act shall donate any and all
unspoiled and unsold food to the recipients specified in the succeeding section.

SEC. 6. Recipients. — The following shall be recipients of food donations from
food establishments, who in turn shall distribute the same to their beneficiaries for free:

a) Charitable institutions;
b) Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs);

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Churches;

d)

Public schools;

e)

Poor residents of Barangays as determined by the barangay officials; and

f) Other analogous institutions as specified in the IRR as determined by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the
Department of Trade and Industry (DT!).

It shall be unlawful for both the indirect and direct recipients of food donations
to sell the same.

SEC. 7. Penalties. — Any food establishment or recipient found guilty of
violating the provisions of this Act shall:

a) Pay a fine of P 20,000.00 for the first offense;
b) Pay a fine of P 50,000.00 for the second offense; and

c) Pay a fine of P 100,000.00 for succeeding offenses. Offenders may also
face possible cancellation of government permits and licenses, depending
‘on the discretion of the Courts.

SEC. 8. Role of Local Government Units (LGU). — Local Government Units
(LGUs) shall campaign for zero food wastage in the households within their locality.
The LGUs shall also create a mechanism to facilitate the collection of food donations
from food establishments and their distribution to the ultimate recipients, which are the
food-deprived individuals. The LGUs shall also encourage households to donate their
unspoiled food to food-deprived individuals in their community.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),

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the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of
this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall continue
to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, and adi istrative
orders or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed
or amended accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the online version of the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved.

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