02 dul 2013
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 838

Introduced by Honorable Erlinda M. Santiago

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 SWS began its survey series on hunger.

This bill intensify 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 in 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.



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

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo.__ 888

Introduced by Honorable Erlinda M. Santiago

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 2013.”

SEC. 2. 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 the 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
Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) is most necessary.

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. 5. 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 of 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 water; g) percentage of families with
working children; h) unemployment rate; i) 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 inter-
agency 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 Act.

SEC. 9. Other Food Programs. — Nothing in this Act shall affect the
existing food programs being implemented by other government agencies.

SEC. 10. Auditing Rules and Regulations. — All expenditures,
disbursement 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 of this program shall be 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 Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules,
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 of unconstitutional, all other
provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after publication in any two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,