v.,
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
tfi'ffiri* of t j? S' ..r» .;•!*
25 JUL 14 All 37
SENATE
509
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR FOOD WASTE PREVENTION, 
RECOVERY, AND REDISTRIBUTION, MANDATING THE SAFE DONATION 
AND UTILIZATION OF SURPLUS FOOD, STRENGTHENING MULTI-SECTORAL 
ACTION AGAINST HUNGER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Globally, food waste has reached alarming levels. According to the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately one-third of all food 
produced for human consumption, or about 1.3 billion metric tons annually, is lost or 
wasted. This occurs despite the persistent presence of hunger and food insecurity 
across many countries, especially in the developing world.
In the case of the Philippines, the situation presents a striking contradiction. 
Based on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Food Waste Index 
Report 2021, households in the Philippines collectively waste around 9.33 million 
metric tons of food each year. This volume of discarded edible food could theoretically 
feed the millions of Filipinos who struggle with hunger multiple times over.
At the same time, data from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) show that in 
the first quarter of 2024,12.6 percent of Filipino families, or approximately 3.3 million 
households, experienced involuntary hunger due to a lack of access to food. In a 
previous survey by the Department of Science and Technology's Food and Nutrition 
Research Institute, 62.1 percent of Filipino households reported moderate to severe 
food insecurity in 2020. The Philippine Statistics Authority also recorded 4,844 deaths


due to malnutrition between January and October 2021, underscoring the fatal 
consequences of prolonged hunger.
This paradox, where food is wasted while many go hungry, is not only a moral 
and social issue but also a failure of systems and infrastructure. It reflects gaps in 
food distribution, weak logistical coordination, the absence of a national standard for 
donation, and a lack of incentives or protections for those who wish to share surplus 
food.
While many Filipinos—ranging from small businesses and restaurants to private 
individuals and volunteer groups—have made sincere efforts to rescue edible food and 
distribute it to communities in need, these acts of compassion remain scattered and 
unsupported by national policy. To truly address food waste and hunger, the country 
must adopt a more structured and coordinated approach.
This bill proposes the creation of a comprehensive national framework for food 
waste prevention, recovery, and redistribution. It establishes a legally binding food 
waste hierarchy to guide priorities and interventions, mandates the safe donation of 
surplus food, empowers local government units and micro, small, and medium 
enterprises through technical support and digital tools, and institutionalizes education, 
transparency, and accountability. It also seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
from landfill waste by encouraging composting and circular food systems.
The Zero Food Waste Act recognizes that food waste is not just a matter of 
individual behavior but a systemic challenge that must be met with policy, planning, 
and innovation. It affirms the State's responsibility to ensure that edible food is not 
wasted, but is instead redirected to where it is most needed—whether for feeding 
families, supporting public nutrition programs, or sustaining climate-resilient 
communities.
In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


5»riiu‘C
'OfflD' of t'j.'
'r
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL 14 AH ;37
SENATE
s. No. 509
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR FOOD WASTE PREVENTION, 
RECOVERY, AND REDISTRIBUTION, MANDATING THE SAFE DONATION 
AND UTILIZATION OF SURPLUS FOOD, STRENGTHENING MULTI-SECTORAL 
ACTION AGAINST HUNGER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as the "'Zero Food Waste Act."
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -It is the policy of the State to affirm and uphold
3 
the constitutional right of every Filipino to adequate food and freedom from hunger.
4 
In pursuit of this mandate, and in recognition of the widespread food insecurity,
5 
systemic inefficiencies in the food supply chain, and the climate consequences of food
6 
waste, the State shall adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach
7 
to reduce food loss and waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure equitable
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access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all.
9 
To this end, the State shall promote the sustainable transformation of food
10 
systems by minimizing preventable food loss and waste across all stages of the supply
11 
chain; encourage circular economy principles; support good-faith food donation; and
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align food waste reduction efforts with national goals on nutrition, disaster resilience,
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climate action, and social protection.
14 
The national food waste prevention and recovery framework shall be
15 
operationalized through a legally binding hierarchy of preferred interventions and
16 
corresponding duties, as provided in Section 4 of this Act. A culture of behavioral
17 
responsibility, public transparency, and multi-sectoral accountability shall be


1 
Institutionalized to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to actively
2 
participate in addressing food waste.
3 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms
4 
shall be defined as:
5 
a. Food Loss - the decrease in quantity or quality of food intended for human
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consumption that occurs from harvest up to, but not including, the retail level
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due to inefficiencies in storage, transport, handling, or processing;
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b. Food Waste - food intended for human consumption that is discarded, whether
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or not it remains fit for consumption, occurring at the retail, food service, and
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consumer levels;
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c. Surplus Food - food products that are safe and fit for human consumption but
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are not sold or consumed due to overproduction, mislabeling, aesthetic
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standards, nearing "best before" dates, or other non-health-related reasons;
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d. Edible Food - any food product that complies with safety, hygiene, and labeling
15 
requirements and is suitable for human consumption, regardless of aesthetic
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or packaging concerns;
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e. Food Recovery Organization - any duly registered non-profit, community
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group, religious or charitable institution, or food bank engaged in the rescue,
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handling, redistribution, or processing of edible surplus food; and
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f. Covered Establishments - food retailers, manufacturers, distributors, groceries,
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restaurants, hotels, institutional kitchens, and similar facilities producing or
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handling food, with a minimum floor area, sales volume, or waste generation
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threshold to be defined in the IRR.
24 
Sec. 4. National Food Waste Reduction and Recovery Hierarchy. - To ensure
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the efficient and responsible management of surplus and waste food, all actors within
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the food supply chain, including producers, processors, distributors, retailers, food
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service providers, and households, shall manage food resources in accordance with
28 
the following legally binding hierarchy, ranked from the most to the least preferred
29 
intervention:
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a. Prevention - Avoiding the generation of food waste at its source shall be the
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top priority. This includes: Forecasting demand accurately to minimize
32 
overproduction and over-purchasing; Implementing inventory management


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systems (e.g., first-in-first-out, batch tracking); Improving harvesting, storage,
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processing, and packaging techniques to minimize loss and spoilage;
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Encouraging portion control and proper menu planning in food service and
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hospitality settings; Promoting awareness of food waste and wasteful
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consumption habits through consumer education and producer training;
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b. Donation and Recovery - Safe and edible surplus food that is no longer saleable
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but remains fit for human consumption shall be: Segregated, labeled, and
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stored appropriately for donation; Collected or delivered to accredited food
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recovery organizations, community pantries, soup kitchens, LGU-run food
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banks, or other social feeding mechanisms; Accompanied by proper
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documentation (e.g., donation receipts, traceability logs) in accordance with
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the IRR; Donated in compliance with food safety standards, including
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temperature control, packaging integrity, and expiration guidelines as
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determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of
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Health (DOH);
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c. Utilization as Animal Feed - Surplus food and food by-products not suitable for
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human consumption but deemed safe for animal nutrition shall be: Evaluated
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and cleared for use as livestock or aquaculture feed in accordance with existing
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guidelines of the Department of Agriculture (DA); Segregated from
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contaminated, hazardous, or prohibited items (e.g., swill from ports or
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airports); Processed, stored, and transported in accordance with biosafety
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protocols to prevent disease transmission and environmental harm;
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d. Composting and Energy Recovery - Food waste that is no longer fit for
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consumption by humans or animals shall be diverted from landfill by:
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Processing through composting, vermiculture, or biogas digesters, whether at
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household, institutional, or municipal scale; Partnering with LGUs or private
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sector composting facilities to ensure collection and reuse of organic waste;
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Following proper segregation of biodegradable waste from recyclables, plastics,
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and hazardous materials to prevent contamination of composting systems;
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e. Final Disposal - Landfilling or incineration shall be used strictly as a last resort
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and only when: The food waste is no longer safe or feasible to reuse, recycle,
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or recover; All prior recovery options under this section have been


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demonstrably exhausted or proven infeasible by the LGU or responsible agency;
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Disposal follows the standards under the Ecological Solid Waste Management
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Act (RA No. 9003), the Clean Air Act, and other relevant environmental
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regulations.
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The National Nutrition Council (NNC), in consultation with the Department of
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Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the DA, and DILG, shall issue guidelines
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for operationalizing this hierarchy, including reporting protocols, compliance timelines,
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and performance-based incentives.
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Sec. 5. Mandatory Donation and Recovery Obligations. -
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(a) All covered establishments, as defined in this Act—including but not limited
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to food retailers with a selling area of at least two hundred (200) square
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meters, supermarkets, groceries, food manufacturers, distributors,
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restaurants, hotels, catering services, and institutional kitchens shall be
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required to:
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1. Implement continuous segregation and inventory of surplus food
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suitable for human consumption, based on first-expiry-first-out
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(FEFO) or equivalent food recovery practices;
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2. Enter into at least one (1) formal Food Recovery Agreement within
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twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act with an accredited
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food recovery organization, LGU-designated food bank, or
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community redistribution partner;
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3. Ensure full compliance with applicable safety, packaging, labeling,
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and traceability protocols, including cold chain handling, food-grade
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containers, and voluntary date labeling adjustments where permitted
25 
by DTI and FDA guidelines;
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4. Designate a Food Waste Compliance Officer or unit, responsible for
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overseeing donation processes, coordinating with partner
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organizations, maintaining documentation, and ensuring submission
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of annual food waste reports under Section 9 of this Act; and
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5. Display a public notice of food donation participation within their
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premises and on their official website or social media platforms, as


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part of public transparency and encouragement of similar practices
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by consumers and industry peers.
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(b) No covered establishment may dispose of, render inedible, or destroy edible
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surplus food unless:
5 
1. The food is determined to pose a significant and immediate health
6 
or safety risk to humans or animals, as certified by the Food and
7 
Drug Administration (FDA) or designated local food safety officer;
8 
2. The food has deteriorated beyond reasonable recovery, despite best-
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effort compliance with handling and storage protocols; and
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3. The disposal is covered by a duly recorded and justified exemption
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issued under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), subject
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to periodic review by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and
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partner regulatory agencies.
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(c) Covered establishments that fail to comply with any of the mandatory
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obligations under this Section, including failure to maintain donation
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partnerships, repeated non-segregation of surplus food, or destruction of
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edible food without justification, shall be subject to administrative sanctions
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as provided under this Act, without prejudice to the imposition of additional
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penalties under other applicable laws.
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Sec. 6. Incentives and Protections for Donors. - Donors acting in good faith
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who donate surplus food that is safe for consumption shall be exempt from civil and
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criminal liability for harm caused by the nature, age, packaging, or condition of the
23 
donated food, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Donated food
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shall be exempt from donor's tax and other local business fees, provided such
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donations are made to duly accredited food recovery organizations and recorded in
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accordance with this Act. Donations under this Act may be deductible as allowable
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expense or charitable contribution under the National Internal Revenue Code, as may
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be determined by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
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Participating food establishments with consistent compliance and innovative
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recovery practices may be eligible for:
31 
a. Public recognition and certification under a national "Walang Tapon Sea!
32 
of Compliance"'(iroqram)


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b. Preferential access to government grants or green finance programs
2 
related to food recovery, waste management, or climate action; and
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c. Reporting credits under applicable ESG or CSR disclosure requirements.
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Private enterprises and technology providers shall be encouraged to develop
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and deploy digital or logistics innovations that support food recovery and waste
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tracking.
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Sec. 7. Roles and Responsibilities of Local Government Units (LGUs). -
8 
a) All LGUs, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local
9 
Government (DILG), shall support the implementation of this Act by:
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1. Establishing, operating, or accrediting community-based food
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recovery infrastructure, including food banks, food pantries, food
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recovery hubs, or mobile redistribution networks at the barangay,
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municipal, city, or provincial level;
14 
2. Maintaining an up-to-date registry of certified food recovery
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organizations, food donors, and 
logistics providers within their
16 
jurisdiction, in coordination with the National Food Waste and
17 
Recovery Portal and relevant agencies;
18 
3. Embedding food waste recovery strategies into local governance
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instruments, including but not limited to the Local Development Plan
20 
(LDP), Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP), Local Nutrition
21 
Action Plan (LNAP), Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), and Local
22 
DRRM Plan;
23 
4. Designating a Local Food Recovery Focal Person or unit within the
24 
City or Municipal Environment 
and Natural Resources Office
25 
(CENRO/MENRO) or Social Welfare Office to oversee coordination,
26 
data reporting, and implementation.
27 
b) LGUs may enter into public-private or civil society partnerships with food
28 
establishments, cooperatives, civic and church organizations, logistics
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companies, or community kitchens to;
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1. Facilitate the collection, temporary storage, cold-chain transport, or
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redistribution of surplus food to households and communities in need;


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2. Establish shared-use equipment and logistics resources (e.g., 
community cold storage, mobile vans, food-grade bins) accessible to 
multiple partners to support localized food recovery operations;
3. Develop innovative models for "barangay food redistribution 
networks," such as community kitchens, food shelf systems, or 
rotating neighborhood fridges;
4. Pilot the use of technology-based matching or tracking platforms in 
coordination with the National Portal under Section 14.
c) LCDs shall promote the safe and sustainable disposal of inedible food 
waste by:
1. Incorporating composting, biogas recovery, animal feed conversion, 
or other circular waste recovery mechanisms into their Ecological Solid 
Waste Management Plan (ESWMP), pursuant to RA No. 9003;
2. Partnering with accredited waste recovery and recycling enterprises 
to ensure proper diversion of non-edible food waste from landfills or 
illegal disposal;
3. Conducting barangay-level household food waste education and 
segregation campaigns, with emphasis on avoiding food waste, 
reusing leftovers, and composting kitchen waste;
4. Incentivizing model barangays or households with verifiable food 
waste reduction or composting success, through local recognition, 
grants, or participation in national recognition programs.
d) The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in 
coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD) and the NNC, shall issue harmonized guidelines and performance 
targets to guide LGU compliance and innovation under this Act. These 
guidelines should also consider the establishment of a performance- 
based evaluation system that links LGU compliance with eligibility for food 
recovery grants, nutrition funding, or GAA-based incentives and the 
integration of food waste recovery indicators in the Seal of Good Local 
Governance (SGLG) or equivalent local governance assessment tools.


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Sec. 8. Education, Training, and PubiicAwareness on Food Waste Prevention. -
a) The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the 
Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall:
1. Integrate food waste prevention, recovery strategies, and circular 
food systems into the basic education curriculum, particularly in 
subjects such as home education, science, values education, and 
Araling Panlipunan;
2. Include climate-smart, zero-waste food system principles in 
senior high school technical-vocational tracks related to 
hospitality, food service, entrepreneurship, and agriculture;
3. Encourage the creation of school-based composting, gardening, 
and feeding programs using recovered food ingredients and 
biodegradable scraps, subject to food safety protocols.
b) The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in consultation with 
TESDA, shall:
1. Encourage state universities and colleges (SUCs), private HEIs, 
and training institutions to incorporate end-of-life food 
management, surplus planning, and food recovery logistics in 
curricula for agriculture, food science, business administration, 
nutrition, hospitality, environmental management, and logistics;
2. Promote research and innovation on food waste prevention 
technologies, surplus food utilization, and cold-chain systems 
among academic institutions and R&D centers.
c) The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 
shall:
1. Integrate food waste prevention protocols into competency- 
based training and certification programs for restaurant 
operators, food processors, caterers, hotel staff, and agri­
business workers;


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2. Ensure that skills development programs for the food and agri 
sector include modules on surplus management, waste 
minimization, and logistics optimization from farm to fork.
d) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with 
business associations, chambers of commerce, and other relevant 
agencies and institutions, shall:
1. Promote and incentivize the adoption of food waste-conscious 
business models, including circular kitchen planning, farm-to- 
rescue supply chains, portion optimization, and ugly-produce 
integration;
2. Encourage capacity building and mentoring for MSMEs in the food 
sector to integrate food waste reduction strategies into product 
development, menu design, procurement, logistics, and facility 
layout;
3. Issue harmonized and consumer-friendly food labeling guidelines, 
including clear distinctions between "Best Before" and "Use By" 
dates;
4. Require food manufacturers and retailers to adopt visible date­
marking formats that reduce confusion and prevent unnecessary 
disposal of still-edible food;
5. Develop informational materials and campaigns to promote food 
literacy, safe leftover handling, and proper food storage practices.
e) The DTI, in partnership with LGUs and TESDA, shall provide technical 
assistance to MSMEs to facilitate compliance with food donation and 
reporting obligations under this Act. The DTI, in coordination with the 
Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED), shall 
develop and disseminate MSME-friendly compliance tools, including 
standard templates for Food Recovery Agreements, simplified 
traceability and reporting forms, and model protocols for segregation, 
storage, and donation of surplus food. The DTI shall also explore cost­
sharing schemes or logistical pooling with LGUs, cooperatives, or 
development partners to support the participation of micro and small


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food retailers, eateries, or carinderias in food donation and recovery 
efforts.
f) The Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the National 
Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Department of Education 
(DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), shall:
1. Promote awareness and dissemination of knowledge on safe, 
locally available, and traditionally edible food sources, including 
but not limited to wild vegetables, mushrooms, seaweeds, root 
crops, fruits, and medicinal plants;
2. Encourage responsible foraging and use of indigenous food 
sources, especially in schools, communities, and local 
government feeding programs, without compromising 
biodiversity or food safety;
3. Support the development of community-based food atlases or 
guides, in partnership with state universities, local knowledge 
holders, and Indigenous Peoples' communities, to document and 
validate edible wild food sources that are culturally significant and 
nutritionally valuable.
Sec. 9. Monitoring, Targets, and Reporting. -
a) The National Nutrition Council (NNC) shall serve as the lead agency for 
monitoring and reporting under this Act, in close coordination with the 
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the 
Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and 
other relevant agencies. The NNC shall:
1. Develop, operationalize, and manage the National Food Waste and 
Recovery Monitoring System (NFW-RMS), which shall track in real­
time or periodic intervals the quantity and nature of food waste 
generation, recovery, redistribution, and disposal across various 
sectors—retail, food service, households, hospitality, and agriculture;
10


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2. Set and update national, sectoral, and regional targets for food waste 
prevention and recovery, using disaggregated benchmarks across 
sectors, and taking into account poverty incidence, hunger hotspots, 
urban-rural dynamics, and existing waste infrastructure capacity;
3. Publish an Annual Food Waste and Recovery Scorecard, identifying: 
Top-performing LGUs, sectors, and establishments; Areas with the 
highest volumes of waste and the lowest levels of recovery; Trends 
in food loss across the supply chain; Progress toward the national 
food waste reduction targets;
4. Establish standards and formats for Food Waste Reduction 
Statements, which shall form part of the mandatory annual reporting 
requirements of medium and large food-related enterprises under 
existing CSR or ESG frameworks, and which may include: Volume of 
food waste prevented or diverted; Details of donation partnerships 
and recovery mechanisms; Innovations adopted in business practices 
or community engagement; Challenges encountered and lessons 
learned.
5. Consolidate LGU reports and monitor compliance across all 
implementing units, including data submitted via the National Food 
Waste and Recovery Portal under Section 14 of this Act.
b) All covered establishments shall prepare and submit an Annual Food 
Waste Management Report to: Their respective LGUs; The NNC via the 
Monitoring System and Portal; and The appropriate regulatory body, 
depending on the sector.
The format, frequency, and minimum content of such reports 
shall be prescribed by the IRR, and may include quantity (in metric tons) 
of edible and inedible food waste, methods of disposal or recovery, and 
compliance with donation obligations.
c) The NNC may engage academic institutions, civil society partners, and 
accredited third-party auditors to support:
1. Independent compliance validation and data quality assurance;
2. Technical assistance for low-capacity LGUs or establishments;
11


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3. Development of behaviorally informed metrics and sectoral
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toolkits.
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Sec. 10. Emergency Linkages and Public Feeding Integration. -
4 
a) The DSWD, in partnership with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
5 
Management Council (NDRRMC) and local governments, shall:
6 
1. Establish protocols to integrate safe surplus food into emergency
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food relief programs, such as for disaster victims, evacuees, and
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vulnerable households;
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2. Designate accredited redistribution channels to absorb post-
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harvest or retail-level surplus for immediate feeding operations
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during emergency response;
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3. Maintain strategic buffer food stocks at LGU- or NGO-run food
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banks to support seasonal surges in hunger.
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b) The DepEd and DSWD shall explore integrating surplus food into school-
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based feeding programs, provided food safety and nutritional quality
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standards are met.
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c) The Department of Health (DOH) shall ensure that all food used in public
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distribution adheres to minimum hygiene and nutritional standards and
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shall coordinate with FDA and LGUs in issuing safety advisories and
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preventive measures.
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Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the implementation of this
22 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) under the
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budgets of the concerned implementing agencies.
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Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred twenty
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(120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the National Nutrition Council (NNC), in
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coordination with DEPDev, DSWD, DENR, DepEd, DTI, DOH, and other concerned
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agencies, shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for its effective
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implementation.
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The IRR shall be developed through public consultation, and shall include
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timelines, technical standards, and compliance mechanisms consistent with the
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provisions of this Act.
32
12


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The NNC, in coordination with the concerned agencies, may issue supplemental
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guidelines to refine implementation tools, update data indicators, or adapt to emerging
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challenges related to food waste and recovery.
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Sec. 13. Pena! Provisions/Penalties. -
5 
a) Any person who knowingly and maliciously contaminates, poisons, or
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renders edible surplus food unsafe or injurious to health, with the intent
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to harm potential recipients or to obstruct food recovery, shall suffer the
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penalty of reclusion temporal, as provided under the Revised Penal
9 
Code, without prejudice to prosecution under the Food Safety Act, the
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Anti-Terrorism Act, or other applicable laws;
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b) Any person who shall knowingly and willfully destroy, spoil, or dispose
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of edible food in violation of this Act, for the purpose of preventing its
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lawful donation or redirection, shall be punished with the penalty of
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prision correccional, in accordance with Article 27 of the Revised Penal
15 
Code;
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c) Any person who shall willfully obstruct, delay, or prevent the recovery
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or redistribution of edible surplus food or the composting of inedible food
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waste, in violation of this Act or its Implementing Rules, shall likewise
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be punished with prision correccional;
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d) If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon
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the officer, director, manager, or employee responsible for the act,
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without prejudice to the imposition of corporate administrative penalties
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under existing laws and regulations.
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e) In addition to criminal liability, covered establishments that repeatedly
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fail to comply with the donation and recovery obligations under this Act,
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without valid justification, shall be subject to the following administrative
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penalties, after due notice and hearing:
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1. First offense - Written warning and mandatory compliance
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orientation;
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2. Second offense - Fine of not more than One Hundred Thousand
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Pesos (P100,000);
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3. Third and subsequent offenses - Fine of not more than Five 
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business permits, as may be imposed by the appropriate 
regulatory agency or LGU.
f) Local Government Units found to have deliberately failed to comply with 
their mandates under this Act, including obstruction of donation efforts, 
non-accreditation of recovery organizations, or unjustified delays in 
implementation, shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action under 
existing DILG and Civil Service Commission rules, including ineligibility 
for performance-based grants or recognitions under the GAA or SGLG.
g) Accredited food recovery organizations that willfully misrepresent 
donation data, misuse recovered food, or operate without safety 
compliance shall face revocation of accreditation, blacklisting, or fines, 
as determined in the IRR.
Sec. 14. National Food Waste and Recovery Portal. -
a) The National Nutrition Council (NNC), in coordination with the 
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), 
the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), and 
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall develop and maintain 
a centralized digital platform known as the National Food Waste and 
Recovery Portal, which shall serve as the official system for coordinating, 
monitoring, and showcasing food waste reduction and recovery efforts 
across the country.
b) The Portal shall include, at a minimum, the following features, without 
prejudice to further enhancements, integrations, or harmonization to be 
provided under the IRR of this Act:
1. Donation Matching System - to link food donors (e.g., retailers, 
restaurants, manufacturers) with accredited food banks, LGUs, 
and CSO partners based on location, volume, type of food, and 
urgency;
2. Reporting Dashboard - for covered establishments, LGUs, and 
implementing agencies to upload required reports, including
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quantity of surplus food donated, recovered, composted, or 
discarded;
3. CSO and Innovation Map - an open-access section highlighting 
civil society initiatives, community food redistribution systems, 
food rescue programs, and startup solutions addressing food 
waste, with geotagged locations and contact details;
4. Logistics and Coid Chain Support Directory - listing available 
accredited logistics providers, cold storage hubs, and shared-use 
transport options that can support food recovery operations;
5. Learning Hub - hosting toolkits, guides, training modules, and 
lEC materials on food waste prevention, handling, and donation 
safety;
6. Recognition and Incentives Portai- to showcase top-performing 
LGUs, establishments, and community programs based on 
Scorecard results and eligibility for incentives or certification.
7. Open Data and Transparency Dashboard - a publicly accessible 
component of the Portal that shall regularly publish summary data 
on food waste generation, recovery, donation volumes, and 
compliance by covered establishments and LGUs. This dashboard 
shall be searchable and downloadable, and shall serve as a 
transparency tool for citizens, researchers, and civil society 
organizations in monitoring progress and holding actors 
accountable. Data to be posted shall include, but not be limited 
to, annual food waste and recovery reports. Scorecard rankings, 
and donation metrics, subject to data privacy and food safety 
standards.
c) The Portal shall be designed with user-friendly mobile and offline- 
compatible features, and may allow API integration with LGU systems 
and third-party applications, provided data privacy and food safety 
regulations are observed.
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d) The DICT shall ensure that the platform complies with accessibility,
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cybersecurity, and interoperability standards, and shall provide technical
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support to LGUs and CSOs for its adoption and use.
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e) All covered establishments, accredited food recovery organizations, and
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LGUs shall be required to register on the Portal and submit regular
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updates as provided in the IRR.
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Sec. 15. Non-Discrimination Ciause. - All food recovery, redistribution,
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donation, public feeding, and related programs implemented under this Act shall be
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conducted in a manner that ensures equitable access to food and services, without
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discrimination on the basis of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or
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expression, civil status, disability, ethnicity, religion, political belief, language, health
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condition, geographic location, socioeconomic status, or any other status protected
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under the Constitution and applicable laws. All persons shall be treated with dignity
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and respect, and no one shall be excluded from the benefits of this Act due to stigma,
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marginalization, or social vulnerability.
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The NNC, in coordination with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), DSWD,
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and other relevant agencies, shall ensure that food recovery programs, community
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feeding operations, and the National Food Waste and Recovery Portal are inclusive,
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culturally sensitive, and accessible to all, including children, senior citizens, persons
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with disabilities. Indigenous Peoples, and disaster-affected or geographically isolated
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communities. Implementing agencies shall adopt appropriate grievance mechanisms
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and issue guidelines to safeguard against discriminatory practices in the
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implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 16. Non-PoUticization of Food Recovery and Redistribution Programs. - All
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activities under this Act, including the collection, redistribution, donation, and public
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feeding of surplus food, shall be conducted in a strictly non-partisan and apolitical
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manner. No food item, service, or benefit provided under this Act shall bear the name,
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image, logo, initials, or any representation of a public official, elected or appointed, or
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any candidate, political party, coalition, or political organization.
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Public officials and employees are prohibited from using food recovery
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programs, food banks, community pantries, or public feeding initiatives established
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under this Act as a platform for personal or political promotion. The NNC, in
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coordination with the DILG, shall issue guidelines to ensure the impartial 
implementation of this provision and may recommend administrative or disciplinary 
action for any violation, without prejudice to sanctions under other applicable election 
or civil service laws.
Sec. 17. Transitory Clause. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act 
and its IRR, covered establishments shall comply with the minimum donation, 
reporting, and portal registration requirements. LGUs shall likewise initiate local 
implementation plans within the same period. The NNC shall publish an annual 
implementation roadmap and may phase in certain provisions based on sectoral 
readiness.
Sec. 18. Congressional Oversight Clause. - The NNC shall submit a 
comprehensive report to Congress every three (3) years from the effectivity of this 
Act, including updates on food waste levels, compliance rates, innovations, and 
implementation gaps. Unless reauthorized by Congress, the provisions of this Act shall 
be subject to a sunset review by the third year to assess relevance, cost-effectiveness, 
and alignment with national development plans and international commitments.
Sec. 19. Separability Clause. - Should any part or provision of this Act be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not otherwise 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 20. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or any part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon publication in the Official 
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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