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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4465

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Anthony Peter “Onyx” D. Crisologo

AN ACT
MANDATING FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS TO DONATE UNSOLD
AND SAFE TO EAT PRODUCTS FOR DISPOSAL TO
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES
FOR VIOLATION

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In a survey' conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) Poll,
approximately 2.3 million Filipino families experienced hunger in the first
quarter of 2019. Although a percentage lower than the hunger incidence
recorded in the last quarter of 2018, the number of families suffering from
this issue remains significant, and should be impermissible.

The issue of involuntary starvation causes serious health problems
that could result to death if left unresolved. This necessitates the government
to be more stringent with its efforts in arresting food insecurity to stay true
to the constitutional mandate that directs it to serve and protect the people.
With a plethora of Filipino families enduring food deprivation, it should be
declared unlawful to waste food.

This bill pushes for the proper utilization of all available resources in
the country by prohibiting food establishments from disposing food that are
still fit for human consumption, and mandating these businesses to channel
their unsold products to charitable institutions that need them.

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

. CRISOLOGO.
sentative
First District, Quezon City

‘ published in inquirer.net, April 25, 2019


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. Os

Introduced by Hon. Anthony Peter “Onyx” D. Crisologo

AN ACT
MANDATING FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS TO DONATE UNSOLD
AND SAFE TO EAT PRODUCTS FOR DISPOSAL TO
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES
FOR VIOLATION

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy.It is hereby declared the policy of
the state to ensure food security by creating a sustainable system that
directly addresses the issue of involuntary starvation.

SECTION 2. Mandatory Donation of Unsold Food Fit for Human
Consumption. Food establishments are prohibited from disposing unsold
food, fit for human consumption in the next 12 hours, and are mandated to
donate them to qualified charitable institutions.

SECTION3. Coverage. The businesses covered by this Act are food
establishments that manufacture large quantity of their products on a daily
basis such as; fast food chains, bakeries, pastry shops and other similar
businesses.

SECTION4. Agencies Concerned and their Responsibilities. The
Government Agencies relevant to this Act are as follows:

a. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall
identify the food establishments covered by this Act.

b. The Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) shall facilitate the distribution of the donations from
the identified food establishments and shall determine the
qualified beneficiaries of this Act.

c. The Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) shall ensure that all Local Government


Units adhere to the provisions of this Act, and should require
them to provide annual evaluation report.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. DTI in close
coordination with DSWD, and DILG shall promulgate the rules and
regulations of this Act.

Further, the strict implementation of this Act shall be under the direct
supervision of the Local Government Unit where the permit of the
establishment was issued, in consultation with the Department of the Interior
and Local Government.

SECTION 6. Penalty. It is prohibited for the identified food
establishments or other similar businesses to discard any food that are still fit
for human consumption in at least the next 12 hours.

Any food establishment violating this provision shall be penalized
with a minimum fine of Twenty five thousand pesos (P 25,000) but not to
exceed Fifty thousand pesos (PR 50,000) for every violation.

Moreover, Local Government Units aregiven the authority to revoke
the license to operate of the establishments that are found liable under this
Act for more than five (5) times, and the establishments that fail to settle
within the period of one (1) the penalties imposed against them.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. The provisions of this Act are
hereby declared separable, and in the event one or more of such provisions
or part thereof are declared unconstitutional, such declaration of
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity of the other provisions
thereof.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, acts, presidential decrees,
executive orders, proclamations and/or administrative regulations which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby amended, modified,
superseded or repealed accordingly.

SECTION9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication in two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,