22 SEP 2016
Republic of the Philippines gn
HOUSE OF REPRE!

TATIVES Rew.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

379
HOUSE BILL NO. 3739

Introduced by Honorable Rodante D. Marcoleta

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Hunger is defined as the painful sensation due to inadequate food intake. It
is a form of severe food insecurity. Prolonged hunger leads to malnutrition. The 6"
National Nutrition Survey showed that in 2003, malnutrition persisted among
Filipinos. People go hungry because of insufficient food to eat and lack of money
to buy food.

Further, the results of surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations
(SWS) reflect an increasing incidence of hunger in the country. The results of
2012 first quarter survey reveal that 3 out of 10 of Filipino families experience
hunger, with nothing to eat. This is the highest national proportion recorded since
the SWS began its survey series on hunger.

This bill intensifies efforts in addressing hunger among our citizenry
particularly those belonging to families in absolute poverty, the homeless, and
mendicants. Under the proposed measure, families will be selected based on the
degree of food insecurity and vulnerability using the Food Insecurity and
Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems.

Lastly, this bill will promote the general welfare and safeguard the health
and well-being of the nation’s population by raising the levels of nutrition among
low-income households and individuals, Its approval is highly recommended.

ae

Cena MARCOLET.



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

Seventeenth Congr
First Regular Ses

ion

379
HOUSE BILL NO, 3789
Introduced by Honorable Rodante D. Marcoleta

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING FOOD SUBSIDY PROGRAM AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Food Subsidy

Program Act of 2016."

vi Statement of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote
the general welfare. Towards this end, there is a need to safeguard the health and
well-being of its population by raising the level of nutrition among low-income
households in the country.

SEC.3. Food Subsidy Program. - There is hereby established a Food
Subsidy Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, which shall be
implemented in every local government unit, in coordination with the Department

of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD) and Department of Education (DepEd), to eliminate



hunger, improve health and well-being and assure food distribution to poor
individuals or families.

SEC.4, Target Beneficiaries. — To identify the beneficiaries of this
Act and to provide them with an opportunity to obtain a more nutritious diet, the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the local
government units and in coordination with the DSWD and DepEd, shall
implement the food subsidy program in the areas where the degree of food
insecurity and vulnerability using the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability

is most necessary.

Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS

For purposes of this Act, FIVIMS is a system or network that evaluates and
disseminates information about the sector of population who are food insecure or
at-risk and where they are located, the reasons they are food insecure or vulnerable

and what remedial actions are to be taken.

SEC.S. Criteria for Determining Food Insecurity, - A composite
index of criteria shall be used in identifying the food insecure areas. These criteria
are as follows: a) ratio per capita expenditure and per capita income; b) poverty
incidence; c) median family income; d) food expenditure and total expenditure; e)

cereal expenditure or food expenditure; f) percentage of households with safe

i)

water; g) percentage of families with working children; h) unemployment rate;
cohort survival rate; j) percentage of underweight member of family or individual;

k) percentage of underweight adult; and 1) percentage of agricultural land under

tenancy.



SEC.6. Establishment of Program. — The Secretaries of the Interior
and Local Government, Health and Social Welfare and Development are hereby
authorized to formulate and administer a food subsidy program under which
eligible persons, schools, or households shall be provided an opportunity to obtain

a more nutritious diet through the issuance to them of allotment of the basic food

needed by such person or members of his household.

SEC.7. Orientation, — An orientation shall be conducted by an
interagency technical working group composed of representatives from the DILG,
DSWD, DepEd, and LGU, with the stakeholders before actual program
implementation to ensure effectiveness and common understanding and respective
roles and responsibilities of concerned officials

SEC.8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The Secretary of
Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the DSWD and DepEd, shall

issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this

Other Food Programs, — Nothing in this Act shall affect the

sting food programs being implemented by other government agencies.

SEC. 10, Auditing Rules and Regulations. — All expenditures,
disbursements of funds and other activities made under this program shall be
subject to existing auditing and accounting rules and regulations.

SEC.11. Appropriations, - The fund necessary for the initial operation

shall appropriated from the Special Activities Fund of the Office of the President



thereafter, the sum necessary for the continuous operation of the Program shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC.12. Repealing Cause. - All laws, decrees, orders, regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SEC.13.  Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any provision of this
Act, or any part thereof, is declared invalid or unconstitutional, all other provisions

not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC.14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after publication in any two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

Approved,