SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES ) Lad
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) owe LZ0CT
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )
HOUSE OF REPRES| MES.
HB. No, BOO \

Introduced by Honorable Agapito H. Guanlao

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Managing the country’s per capita rice consumption is an important strategy in attaining rice
self-sufficiency. With the ballooning of the country’s population to 95.8 million in 2012, it is
very doubtful that the country’s current state of food sufficiency can absorb such, The
Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) targets a 120 kg annual per capita consumption as a
component strategy that requires the involvement of all sectors of the society and all under
the state’s machinery.

Wastes however are generated not by consumption alone but in the gamut of processes
involved from production of food staples, rice for that matter, until it is consumed by the
population.

According to a report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
an estimated 120,000 for every one million metric tons (MT) of palay produced by farmers are
wasted due to the lack of proper post-harvest facilities. This is equivalent to about 6 percent
of post harvest losses or about 1,200,000 metric tons a year. This translates to P19,200,000 at
present farm gate price of palay.

‘At the other end, are significant losses resulting from wasteful consumption of rice. This
according to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) translates to losses worth more
than P22.5 million a day, or about P8.4 billion a year. The wastage on the table (cooked rice)
alone according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) is on an average three (3)
tablespoons or 9 grams or 3.3 kilograms a year. Luzon wastes about 16 grams, the Visayas
and Mindanao waste 12 grams per capita. This translates to roughly 318,645 tons a year,
assuming that 97 million Filipinos waste 16 grams a day. This may also mean an importation of
the same volume a year.

Wasteful consumption of rice underscores the need for understanding food wastage in
general. Wastage of other foods may not be far behind. Food wastage is also related with
consumers’ capacity to spend more because the more they have the capacity to purchase
food, the higher their propensity for generating wastes.

Food wastes are also generated during its consumption such as in consumption that is based
on unhealthy and uninformed eating habits. Unhealthy in the sense that food consumption
intake is driven by excessive quantities and not by the body’s requirement. It is observed that
left-overs or even untouched food end-up as wastes in food establishments. Restaurants, fast
food joints, and even canteens and cafeterias in offices and schools have become repositories
of huge volumes of left-overs. Some food establishments that offer buffets and serve
unlimited food such as rice are also fast becoming waste generators.

Wastage may also be a result of improper labelling of packaged food. With more consumers
becoming more aware of purchasing healthy and natural food, Improperly labelled food and
drink packages especially those that do not contain expiry dates, or such labelled in foreign
language end-up as wastes. But reports had it that expired packaged food are sold in the
market by unscrupulous traders posing detriment to the public’s health and safety.

This proposed legislation also addresses the wasteful consumption of food in the context of
promoting and enhancing wellness as a matter of attaining food security. It intends to
reinvent the food consumption patterns of people and at the same time, enjoin food

Ly

NS

nD
2013



establishments to participate by supporting the food security initiatives of the government.
Furthermore, it shall help develop health and well-being consciousness among consumers.

It may be superfluous for the moment to delve into exact estimates of the magnitude of the
food wastes generated in the country. Suffice it to say that deeper studies must be conducted
as bases for indentifying and implementing programs and initiatives that must be undertaken
and for that matter all food and food staples must be considered.

The processes in the food value chain generate wastes. Effecting therefore a sound
management of food and food staples consumption and minimizing wastes will later redound
to contributions towards a development goal of delivering accessible and affordable food and
food staples for the population and the promotion of a healthy citizenry, thus approval of this
measure is earnestly sought.

AGAP{ZO H. GYANLAO


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!
HOUSE BILL NO. 3
Introduced by Honorable Agapito H. Guanlao

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING MECHANISMS TOWARD SOUND MANAGEMENT OF FOOD AND FOOD
STAPLES CONSUMPTION, ZERO FOOD-WASTE MANAGEMENT PURSUANT TO FOOD
SECURITY AND APPROPRIAITING FUNDS THEREFORE

Section 1. Short Title. - The Food and Food Staples Consumption and Zero Food-
Waste Management Act of 2013

Section 2. Declaration of State Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to
promote programs and projects that ensure food security. In so doing, it shall pursue
a thrust for the sustainable utilization of our limited agricultural and food resources.
In order to initiate efforts to ensure food security, the State shall promote sound
consumption and zero food-waste management in the production, handling,
distribution and consumption of food and food staples. It shall likewise provide
mechanisms that will prevent the wasteful consumption of food and at the same time,
encourage the development of better eating and health habits among consumers.

Section 3. Creation of a Zero Food-Waste Management Program. - There is hereby
created a Zero Food-Waste Management Program to be implemented by the
government. It shall have different components, all of which shall be directed
towards institutionalizing measures intended to attain Zero Food-Waste.

Section 4. Promotion of Healthy Food Consumption. - This component of the
program addresses the generation of wastes and excesses in the consumption of food
‘and food staples. It focuses on informing and educating consumers on healthy food

consumption.

Section 4.1. Food establishments such as, but not limited to restaurants, fast
food chains, as well as canteens and cafeterias in schools and offices, whether
owned and operated by government or private entities, are hereby required to
provide and post visible and readable information, in a language that is
understood by the majority of its customers, on the specific caloric contents of
the food and drinks sold and served. These information shall be based on the
Food Pyramid prepared by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute and the
National Nutrition Council.

Section 4.2. Food establishments are also required to adjust the
measurements, volume of servings and price of the food served and sold,
depending on the preference of their customers. Depending on the standard of
measurements as may be prescribed by this Act, all food establishments are
required to serve (1) whole, three-fourths (3/4) or one half (1/2) of the
standard measurements prescribed.

Section 4.3. The Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry,
and the Department of Interior and Local Government through LGU offices


tasked with the issuance and control of business permits and licenses of food
establishments, shall be responsible to update and revise existing guidelines in
implementing the provisions of this law.

Section 5. Promotion and Provision of Resources for Complete Mechanization of
Agriculture - The program intends to achieve zero waste of agricultural products from
production, packing and to distribution using state of the art technology and
packaging materials that preserve and food quality. This will include, but not limited
to vaccum packed sacks, and the like. Machineries and equipment shall be identified
and provided for by the Department of Agriculture (DA) that shall function as lead
agency in this initiative. The DA shall provide a list of existing harvest and post-
harvest facilities, such as but not limited to solar dryers, threshers, hullers, milling
facilities, and the like, it is already distributing through its numerous assistance
programs. The DA shall be responsible to draft policies and guidelines concerning the
purchase and distribution of these equipment, and shall include such in this law's
implementing rules and regulations.

Section 6. Promotion of Food Safety Through Proper Packaging and Labelling. -
Guided by the provisions under Chapter IV on Labelling and Fair Packaging of Republic
‘Act 7394 or the Consumers Act of the Philippines, guidelines and policies that will
improve the said law shall be formulated with the Department of Trade and Industry
taking the lead.

6.1. Required information in food labels and packages:

6.1.2. Nutritional facts,

6.1. b. Source of the products - location of farms, country of origin, etc.
6.1... Packaging materials used,

6.1.d. Required dates of manufacture and expiry

6.1. e. Others to be determined

7. Inter-Agency Implementing Body. - To implement the law, an inter-agency body
shall be created and shall be composed by the following government agencies:

Department of Health through the National Nutrition Council (NNC), Food and
Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD)- as
Chairperson of the Body

Department of Agriculture - as Vice-chairperson

Department of Trade and Industry - Member

Department of Education/Health and Nutrition Center - Member

Commission on Higher Education - Member

Department of Interior and Local Government - Member

Section 8. Roles and Responsibilities. - Each of the following agencies that are
included in the implementing body shall perform the following roles and
responsibilities:

4. Set standards for food consumption vis-a-vis required calorie content depending
on age, bodily composition, and the like.

2. Set standards specific food types or groups vis-a-vis calorie content and
volume/quantities, to include, but not limited to serving sizes;

3, Develop and implement policies on standards for food consumption vis-a-vis
agriculture and food resource availability, including projections based on natural
considerations such as calamities, planting, harvesting and production cycles per
agricultural and livestock crop/products, etc;

4, Develop guidelines that shall govern food establishments in terms of licensing and
permits to sell specific food items;


5. Draft and implement guidelines pertinent to the publication and display of
information on required food calorie requirements in food establishments;

6. Develop a pricing system that shall be used in assigning costs of food orders and
servings; and.

7. Draft and implement a system of penalties, that include, but not limited to
payment of reasonable fines, frequency of violations, and the like; and,

8. Specifically, the Department of Education shall formulate guidelines on the
inclusion of food consumption and saving related topics to be included in the
curriculum of public and private elementary and high schools.

9. Specifically, the Commission on Higher Education shall draft guidelines to effect
the inclusion of subject matters related to food consumption and preparation in
the specific curricula of specific degrees/courses such as, but not limited to
Agriculture, Hotel and Restaurant Management/Administration, Culinary Arts,
Nursing, Allied Medicine, and the like.

Section 9. - Zero-Food Waste Information and Education Campaign Program. - An
Information and Education Campaign Program shall be launched wherein all of the
agencies composing the Inter-Agency Body shall participate. As provided in Section 12
of this Act, separate fund that shall augment the existing funds of agencies that are
part of the Inter-Agency Body will be earmarked that shall enable them to implement
information and educations initiatives.

Section 10. - Within two (2) months after the enactment of this law, the Secretary of
Health through the National Nutrition Council shall immediately convene the inter-
agency body.

Section 10.1. The immediate task of the inter-agency body is to draft the
implementing rules and regulations.

Section 10.2. It is likewise expected that an initial information/data sheet on the
calorie content of specific food, compared with specific food
measurement/serving sizes be drafted and distributed to major food
establishments.

Section 11. Oversight. - The implementation of this Act shall be monitored by the
Inter-Agency, with coordination with the Committees on Agriculture, Health and
Economic Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on Agriculture and Food, Health,
Trade and Industry, Education and the Special Committee on Food Security of the
House or Represenatives.

Section 12. Appropriations. - The amount of TEN MILLION PESOS (P 10,000,000.00)
shall be appropriated for this purpose and shall its release shall be spread in two
years. An amount of FIVE MILLION PESOS (P 5,000,000.00) shall be released to all
members of the Inter-Agency Body to augment their existing budgets and such fund
shall be solely used solely for information and education purposes.

Section 13. SOURCES OF FUNDS FOR HARVEST AND POST-HARVEST FACILITIES. - For
the first two (2) years of this law’s implementation, harvest and post-harvest
facilities shall be accessed from the Department of Agriculture’s existing programs
and projects on farm mechanization.

Section 13.1. On the second year of this law’s implementation, the
Department of Agriculture shall plan, in coordination with the Inter-Agency
Body, and the Municipal and Provincial Agricultural Offices, and submit a list
‘of machineries needed to fully implement the said program on farm
machineries, and shall proposed a line item in its department’s budget in the


General Appropriations Act, in the amount of ONE BILLION PESOS (P
1,000,000,000.00)

Section 13.2. Upon the approval in the General Appropriations Act, the Inter-
‘Agency Body, with the Department of Agriculture as lead agency, shall
monitor the impact of the mechanization program as provided in this law. It
shall submit a report to the Commission on Audit, the Department of Finance
and Budget and Management detailing its findings on the impact of the said
program.

Section 13.3. Any additional appropriations of the said program shall be
dependent on the positive outcomes of the program.

Section 14. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof
be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable, shall remain in
force and effect.

Section 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (30) days after the
publication in the Official Gazette and in any two (2) newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved,