Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7759

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, hunger is still
one of the most urgent development challenges, yet the world is producing more than enough
food. However, up to one third of all food is spoiled or squandered before it is consumed by
people. This is a big waste considering that the production of food involves labor, water, energy,
land and other raw materials. This food waste or loss affects not only the food security but also
the country’s economy and natural resources and pollution.

This bill seeks to address this concern by establishing National Zero Food Waste
Campaign. This campaign aims to educate the public regarding the current situation of food
waste and how to effectively prevent it. The bill also prohibits food establishment in throwing
away edible food but instead giving them to charity homes or feeding programs of the
government,

Hence, this proposal is submitted for consideration.

“KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO }y
Representative
First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7759

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

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".

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 composted.

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 houscholds 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.


4. 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.

¢. 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 the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effe
publication in the Official

Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
tte or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.