Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND RECYCLING 
FOOD WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Food waste and hunger are two of the most pressing issues worldwide 
including in the Philippines. While millions of Filipinos struggle without food, 
the nation continues to generate a staggeringly high amount of food waste. 
A Food Consumption Survey of the Department of Science and 
Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) found that 
1,717 metric tons of food are wasted every day in the country while an 
estimated 3 million Filipino households experienced hunger at least at the 
start of 2023. In Metro Manila alone, about 2,000 tons of waste is generated 
daily, according to a 2017 study by the Philippine Institute of Development 
Studies. 
This measure seeks to address both the nation’s issues of food wastage 
and hunger. Government agencies led by the National Nutrition Council shall 
be tasked to undertake a National Zero Food Waste Campaign to educate the 
public on the repercussions of food wastage and on their role to avoid it. 
Additionally, the bill mandates food-related businesses such as food 
manufacturers, supermarkets, restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels to conduct 
food waste reduction strategies. Further, local government units are also 
required to take an effort to address food wastage in the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 
April 26, 2023
2:24 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND RECYCLING 
FOOD WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY 
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 "Zero Food Waste 
Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes that each person 
has a right to an adequate standard of living, including sufficient food. It is 
hereby declared a policy of the State to safeguard food security, end hunger, 
and promote the efficient use of the country's food resources.  
Towards this end, the State shall adopt a system to promote, facilitate, 
and ensure food waste reduction through redistribution and recycling. The 
massive amount of food wasted and the considerable number of people going 
hungry daily is a breach that this Act intends to correct. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
shall mean: 
a. Food insecure - persons or groups who have difficulty producing or
purchasing food to avoid hunger.
b. Edible food waste - food discarded in the retail and consumption stages,
determined to be fit for consumption based on standards set by the
National Nutrition Council.
c. Food waste reduction - decreasing food waste generation, redistributing
food waste to the food insecure, or recycling food as fertilizer or
compost.
d. Food-related business - public and private businesses involved in the
manufacturing 
and 
processing 
of 
food 
products 
(i.e. 
food
manufacturers), private businesses involved in the wholesaling and
7898


retailing of food products (i.e. supermarkets), and private businesses 
involved in serving food products (i.e. restaurants, cafeterias, and 
hotels). 
e. Food banks - non-profit, charitable, or other social mission-driven 
organizations that distribute food to the food insecure. 
f. Inedible food waste - food discarded in the retail and consumption 
stages, determined to be unfit for consumption based on standards set 
by the National Nutrition Council. 
g. Waste management and recycling enterprises - organizations that 
manage inedible food waste by converting these into fertilizers or 
compost. 
  
SECTION 4. National Zero Food Waste Campaign. - The National Nutrition 
Council (NNC), in close coordination with the Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DOH), and other concerned agencies 
and Local Government Units (LGUs), is hereby tasked to undertake a National 
Zero Food Waste Campaign, and the food waste reduction efforts required of 
food-related businesses and households through LGUs. The Campaign shall 
also promote the food waste reduction hierarchy and recommend means of 
reducing individual food waste.  
 
DepEd shall have the duty to ensure that the education curriculum 
includes materials on the current global and national food waste situation, 
ways to reduce food waste, national and local food waste prevention programs, 
and regarding the provisions of this Act. DTI shall encourage food-related 
businesses to purchase lower-price, non-standard size or shape produce to 
be used in their food products. 
  
SECTION 5. Food-Related Business Waste Reduction Strategy. - Food-
related businesses such as food manufacturers, supermarkets, restaurants, 
cafeterias, and hotels are hereby required to: 
 
a. Submit an initial report to the DSWD and DENR that contains data on 
the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste in the past 
year, organized according to the manner of disposal, including 
donation, composting or discarding; 
b. Submit an annual report to the DSWD and DENR that contains data 
on the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste in the 
immediately preceding year organized according to the manner of 
disposal, including donation, composting or discarding; 
c. Enter into a contract with food banks to redistribute edible food waste 
to the food insecure; 
d. Shoulder the costs of transporting edible food waste from the business 
location to the food bank's warehouse or distribution center; 
e. Ensure that the edible food waste is unadulterated and in good 
condition upon arrival at the food bank's distribution center; 


f. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises 
to recycle inedible food waste into fertilizer or compost; 
g. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from collection 
areas to waste management sites; and 
h. Reach and maintain food waste levels at the target set by the DENR. 
  
SECTION 6. National Zero Food Waste Scheme. - DSWD, as the 
coordinating agency between the food business and good banks, shall: 
 
a. Provide guidelines and standards for the collection, storage, and 
distribution of edible food donated to food banks; 
b. Ensure that food businesses have entered into contracts with food 
banks and issue acceptance certificated to food businesses; 
c. Promote linkages between food banks and LCDs to create a community-
based food distribution system for the food insecure; and 
d. Create a Self-Sufficiency Program that will provide the food insecure 
with skills training on managing food banks and livelihood programs to 
avoid sole dependence on donations. 
         
SECTION 7. Household and Local Government Unit Waste Reduction 
Strategy. - LGUs are hereby required to: 
 
a. Submit an initial report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of 
inedible food waste that can be recycled as raw material for fertilizers 
or compost to the DENR; 
b. Submit an annual report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of 
inedible food waste that can be recycled as raw material for fertilizers 
or compost to the DENR; 
c. Initiate waste segregation efforts per household through local 
campaigns; 
d. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises 
to recycle inedible food waste from households into fertilizer or compost; 
e. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from collection 
areas to waste management sites; and 
f. Reach and maintain inedible food waste levels at the target set by 
DENR. 
  
SECTION 8. Tax Incentive – Food-related businesses that donate edible food 
to food banks shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be 
considered as an allowable deduction from their gross income, in accordance 
with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), as 
amended. 
  
SECTION 9. Penal Provisions/Penalties. - The penalty of prison correctional 
be imposed on any individual, private or public, who deliberately makes food 
waste unfit for consumption. The same penalty is applicable to private or 
public actors who prevent the redirection of edible food waste to food banks 
or inedible food waste to waste management and recycling enterprises. 
  


SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within sixty 
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the NNC, in coordination with the 
DSWD, DENR, DepEd, DTI, DOH, and other relevant government agencies, 
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
  
SECTION 11. Periodic Review. -The implementing agencies shall submit an 
annual report to Congress on the progress in the implementation of this Act. 
  
SECTION 12. Appropriations. - The funds needed to implement this Act 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
         
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
  
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
regulations or other issuances or parts Inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
  
SECTION 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation in the Philippines. 
  
 Approved,