Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESHNTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSEB|ii~No.   5245
Introduced by Representative Alan 1 8. Ecleo
HXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippine archipelago is gifted with immense beauty and abundance
in natural resources. However, it is also geographically situated astride the Pacific
Typhoon Belt and is always exposed to several typhoons.
Between 2006 and 2016, 64 of the 99 tropical cyclones (at least 65%) that
entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) made landfall on various
Philippine islands. In this decade, about ten were particularly deadly in terms of
casualties  and  economic  damages.  Among  those  notably  disastrous  typhoons
were Yolanda in 2013 (with 2.02 Billion USD in damages), Pablo in 2012 (with
1.04  Billion  USD  in  damages),  Glenda  in  2014  (with  871   Million  USD  in
damages), and Pepeng in 2009 (with 608 Million USD in damages).I
Most recently, last December 2021, Typhoon Odette (International Name
Rai) caused P 22.8 Billion worth of damage to infrastructure in Caraga Region
alone. In the Province of Dinagat Islands, over 34, 000 families were displaced
and  14 people were killed.
In addition to typhoons, the Philippines have had its share of earthquakes.
The  1990 earthquake that shook Bohol displaced 46, 000 persons and damaged
infrastructure and houses amounting to 154 Million pesos.2 Bohol was once again
devastated by another earthquake in October 2003, with damages amounting to
]https://reliefweb. int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ocha_phl_destructive_typhoons  2006  to
2016.pdf
2https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/earthquake/destructive-earthquake-of-the-
philippines/17-earthquake


at least 50 Million USD.3 In 2019, Central Luzon suffered at least  10.5 Million
USD  in  economic  damages  when  a  6.1   Magnitude  hit  with  Sam  Marcelino,
Zambales as the epicenter.4
In all these instances of calamity, the common issue with respect to quick
response and rendering of rescue services is the lack of immediate supply of food,
water, and essential goods such as tents, portable power source, communication
devices, and clothing.
A   long-term   comprehensive   and   inter-agency   solution   that   directly
addresses the lack of immediately available supply and source of food, water, and
essential goods is necessary.
One of such solutions is the establishment of a Calamity Food Bank, which
is a reserve of food, water, and other essential goods prepositioned preferably in
all provinces, ready to be used in time of calamity-induced emergencies.
The establishment of a Calamity Food Bank in every province is an inter-
agency effort, headed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council  (NDRRMC)  and the Department of Social  Welfare and Development
(DSWD). Expertise of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),
the  Department  of Trade  and  Industry  (DTI),  the  Department  of Agriculture
(DA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department
of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will likewise be essential in ensuring
the effectivity and efficiency of the Food Banks.
In addition to providing immediate and readily available essential goods,
the Calamity Food Bank will also be an instrument for the government to provide
livelihood  to  local  farmers  and  food  producers,  as  the  food  and  items  to  be
prepositioned are processed and preserved agricultural products sourced locally
or from the very locality/province where they will be stocked.
This   bill   envisions  Bayanihan   applied   in   calamity  preparedness  and
immediate disaster response, which every Filipino deserves. In view thereof, the
passage of this bill is eamestly sought.
Representative, L
3 https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.p
8. ECLEO
District of Dinagat Islands
p/earthquake/destructive-earthquake-of-the-
philippines/17-earthquake
4 NDRRMC Update: SitRep No.  13 re Magnitude 6.1  Earthquake in Castillejos, Zambales


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HoUSE B|Lij~No.   5245
Introduced by Representative Alan  1  8. Ecleo
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
AND CONSTRUCTION 0F CALANITY FOOD BANKS
IN EVHRY PROVINCE IN THE PHILIPPINES,
PROVIDING FOR THEIR MAINTENANCE,
AND APPROPRIATING THE FUNDS THEREFOR
Be i_t enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives Of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:
1       SECTION 1. Sfeorf rz.I/e-This Act shall be known as the "Calamity Food Bank
2      Actof2022".
3
4      SEC.  2.  Dec/czrczfz.o77  o/Po/z.c);  -The  Philippine  Disaster  Risk  Reduction  and
5      Management Act of2010 or Republic Act no.10121, under section 30), defines
6      Disaster   Preparedness    as    "the   knowledge   and    capacities   developed   by
7      governments,  professional  response  and  recovery  organizations,  communities
8      and  individuals  to  effectively  anticipate,  respond  to,  and  recover  from,  the
9      Impacts oflikely, imminent or current hazard events or conditions. Preparedness
10      action is carried out within the context of disaster risk reduction and management
11       and  aims  to  build  the  capacities  needed  to  efficiently  manage  all  types  of
12      emergencies and achieve orderly transitions from response to sustained recovery.
13      Preparedness is based on a sound analysis of disaster risk and good linkages with
14      early  waming  systems,  and  includes  such  activities  as  contingency  planning,
15      stockpiling  of equipment  and  supplies,  the  development  of arrangements  for
16      coordination, evacuation and public information, and associated training and field
17      exercises. These must be supported by formal institutional, legal and budgetary
18       capacities."


19                  Among  the  activities  that  are  worth  emphasizing  is  the  stockpiling  of
20      equipment and supplies  or the prepositioning of readily-available resources in
21      areas where they are to be used or distributed in case ofa calamity or emergent
22      situation.
23
24                  Corollary thereto,  Section  12(c)(item  16) of the abovesaid law empowers
25      the local government units in requiring that "the provincial, city and municipal
26      Disaster  Risk  Reduction  and  Management  Offices  (DRRMOs)  or  Barangay
27      Disaster Risk Reduction and Management committees (under the office of the
28      governor, city or municipal mayor, and the punong barangay) shall impartially
29      and promptly "respond to  and manage the adverse effects of emergencies and
30      cany out recovery activities in the affected area, ensuring that there is an efficient
31      mechanism  for  immediate  delivery  of food,  shelter  and  medical  supplies  for
32      women  and   children,   endeavor  to  create  a  special  place  where  intemally-
33      displaced mothers can find help with breast feeding, feed and care for their babies
34      and give support to each other."
35
36                  Furthermore,  no  less  than  the  Constitution,  under Article  11,  Section  9,
37      declares as a policy that "the state shall promote ajust and dynamic social order
38      that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people
from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full
employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all."
41
42                  Thus,  these  policies  and  principles  shall  be  upheld  and  promoted  by
43      ensuring adequate and immediate supply offood, water, and other essential goods
44      for  times  of calamity  through  strategic  prepositioning  of the  same  in  all  81
45      provinces of the philippines.
46
47                  In    achieving   the    same,    the   implementers    shall   likewise   promote
48      agriculture,  livelihood,  and income generation for local producers by using the
49      agricultural products of the locality for the supplies to be stockpiled in calamity
50      Food Banks covered bythis Act.
51
52     SBC;. 3. Creation and Establishment of calamity Food Banks -There shallbe a
53      Calamity Food Bank, or a reserve offood, water, and other essential goods such
54      as, but not limited to, portable power source, first aid kits, portable light source,
55      clothing, tents, and communication devices in every municipality and city in the
56      Philippines; provz.ded, that if simultaneous creation and establishment of the same
57      in  all  provinces  is  impracticable  due to  financial  and  logistical  considerations,
58      priority shall be given to  island provinces or island  regions,  coastal provinces,
59      earthquake-prone provinces, provinces with  a highly active volcano,  and  other
60      similarly situated provinces.
61


62
63       SEC.  4. Jmp/eme#fz.7cg 4ge#cz.es.  The creation and establishment of a calamity
64      Food  Bank  in  every  province  shall  be  an  inter-agency  effort,  headed  by the
65      National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management council (NDRRMC) and the
66      Department   of  Social   Welfare   and   Development   (DSWD).   Expertise   and
67      cooperation of the following agencies shall likewise be required for the full and
68      efficient implementation of this Act:
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a.   Department of public Works and Highways (DPWH),
b.  Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
c.   Department of Agriculture (DA),
d.  Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and
e.   Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
SEC.  5.  Ccz/czrmz.fy Fooc7 Bcz73fa sfr"c/wre -Every  Calamity  Food  Bank  shall  be
housed in a calamity-proof structure or warehouse to be designed and constructed
by the Department of public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Said  structure  shall  be  designed  with  the  following  specifications  and
81       considerations:
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a.   Structure or Warehouse shall be able to withstand Category 5 typhoons,
High Magnitude Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, and Storm  Surges
(in case of island and/or coastal provinces).
b.  The size and volumetric capacity of the Structure or Warehouse shall
be  sufficient to hold  food,  water,  and essential good  supplies  for the
whole population of the province for at least three (3) weeks.
c.   Structure  or  Warehouse  shall  be  powered  using  sustainable  sources
such  as  solar,  wind,  or hydro-electric  power,  and  shall  have  backup
power in case of power outages.
d.  Measures  shall be taken to  ensure that the  Structure or Warehouse is
secure  from  unauthorized  access,  thievery,  and  looting.  Limited  and
secure access as granted to the officials in charge of its maintenance and
replenishment shall likewise be included in the design.
e.   Structure or Warehouse shall be vermin-proof and well-insulated, and
designed to be fire-resistant and fully equipped with fire extinguishers
(both  fully  automatic  and  manual)  in  case  of  fires  resulting  from
electrical fault, accident, or arson.


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SEC. 6. Sfockyz./i.#g ~ This stockpiling and annual replenishment of supplies shall
be spearheaded and facilitated through the coordinated efforts of the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), with the following guidelines:
a.   The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall:
i.      Update the institutionalized and standard contents of their Family
Food  Pack  (FFP)  and  devise  each  FFP  to  contain  all  regular
necessities such as, but not limited to, rice, canned goods, basic
medication,  water,  and ready-to-eat meals and, now including,
the processed locally-produced products of the local farmers and
micro-producers of the respective provinces/localities.
ii.      Make use of the fund allocation for the procurement ofFFPs to
purchase the  collated products of the local  farmers  and micro-
producers (through the Department of Agriculture as hereinafter
provided) and to facilitate the processing of the purchased raw
materials    into   preserved   ready-to-eat   meals    (through   the
Department of Science and Technology as hereinafter provided).
b.  The Department of Agriculture, through their Provincial Directors, shall
collate  all  farmers  and micro-producers  in  their respective provinces
and facilitate the production and purchase of their local produce. They
shall ensure that the demand for raw materials and agricultural produce
are equitably distributed among all farmers and micro-producers in the
locality.
c.   The   Department   of  Trade   and   Industry,   through   their  Provincial
Directors,  shall  facilitate  the  purchase  of  non-agricultural  products
(such  as  clothing,  shelter  materials,  essential  equipment,  and  others)
from local suppliers and producers. They shall ensure that the demand
for  such  products  is  equitably  distributed  among  all  suppliers  and
producers in the locality.
d.  The  Department  of Science  and  Technology  (DOST),  through  their
Provincial   Directors,    shall    facilitate   the   processing   of   all   raw
agricultural   and   non-agricultural   raw   materials   and  products   into
preserved   goods   or   Meals   Ready-to-Eat   (MRE),   as   well   as   the
procurement or production of water filtration devices and systems to be
stocked into the Calamity Food Banks. DOST shall likewise ensure that


the processing of the goods results in food packs and products that do
not expire for at least 18 months or 1.5 years.
149
150                  In  the  process  of  Stockpiling,  the  Department  of  Social  Welfare  and
151      Development (DSWD)  and the Department of Interior and Local  Government
152      (DILG), through their Regional Directors, shall provide to DA, DTI, and DOST
153      the necessary data  such  as,  but not limited to,  the number of beneficiaries per
154      barangay, municipality, city and/or province, and other necessary information to
155      make sure that the raw materials to be procured and the stocks to be processed
156      will  be  sufficient  for  all  constituents  for  at  least  three  (3)  weeks  following  a
157       calamity.
158
159      SEC.  7.  jzep/e#z.sferme#f  -  If after  the  lapse  of twelve  (12)  months  from  any
160      instance of stockyiling, the goods in a calamity Food Bank remain unused, the
161      same shall be distributed by the DSWD to the indigent communities through any
162      oftheirprograms.
163
164                  During any replenishment and initiation of stockpiling process, DILG and
165      DSWD  shall  monitor  any  change  in the  number of beneficiaries  to  make  the
166      necessary  changes  in the process  of procurement of raw agricultural  and non-
167      agricultural goods and stockpiling.
168
SEC.  8. Disfrz.bwfz.o# cz73d A4:o#z./o7`z.#g -In the event of any calamity, NDRRMC
and DSWD shall initiate the use of the stocks in the Calamity Food Banks.
171
172                  NDRRMC, through their Local councils, shall provide the official order
]73      to  access  and  distribute  the  goods  in  the  Calamity  Food  Banks.  They  shall
174      likewise facilitate the provision of adequate local transportation from the Food
175      Banks to the affected Barangays.
176
177                  DSWD  and  DILG  shall  identify  the  areas  affected  and  coordinate with
178      NDRRMc for the system of distribution;prot#.Zed, that the same shall be efficient
179      andimmediate.
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182       SEC.  9.  Imp/eme7?fz.73g  Rcz/es  cl#c7 jiegct/ofz.o7?s    -The  NDRRMC  and  DSWD,
183      through its chailperson and secretary respectively, shall issue the necessary rules
184      and regulations  for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90)
185      days after approval of this Act.
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188       SEC.    10.   ,4ppraprz.czfz.o77s   -   The   budgetary   requirements   necessary   for  the
189      accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of this Act shall be included in


the General Appropriations Act, through the respective provincial governments
and in close coordination with NDRRMC and DSWD, of the year following its
enactment into law.
SEC.  1 1. jlepecz/z.ng C/czc4§e - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders or
parts  thereof that  are  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of this  Act  are  hereby
repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC.12. Effectivity -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers
of general circulation.
Approved,