NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 30
B!LLSv-4 index
Introduced by SENATOR RAMOF4 BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO 
ADEQUATE FOOD
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The most pressing issue during the novel Coronavirus pandemic is the 
accessibility and availability of food. Needless to say, food is an essential need for 
human life. While most businesses have been ordered closed due to strict quarantine 
measures, food producers, processors and distributors were allowed to operate. 
Nevertheless, as groceries and public markets remained open, many families did not 
have the capacity to buy sufficient food due to economic setbacks and loss of 
livelihood. Some remote areas also experienced shortage of food stocks and 
Increased food prices due to imposition of severe travel restrictions and limited food 
production.
According to a survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS), a record-high 
hunger rate was recorded in September 2020 at 30.7% or an estimated 7.6 million 
families. This is significantly higher compared to the pre-pandemic rate of 8.8% for 
December 20191.
Food insecurity and hunger are issues not born from this current health 
emergency. As per the 2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report 
of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Philippines has the most number of 
food insecure people in the Southeast Asian region from 2017 to 2019 with 59
1 Fourth Quarter 2020 Social Weather Survey: Hunger eases to 16.0% of families in November. December 16, 
2020. http://vuww..sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsvscode-ART-2020121614.S500


million Filipinos suffering from moderate to severe lack of consistent access to food. 
In addition, a total of 15.4 million were considered undernourished Filipinos.
Official data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that 5.2% of 
Filipinos were not able to meet their basic food needs or 5.5 million Filipinos were 
considered food poor in 20182.
This bill seeks to address the grave statistics of hunger and food insecurity in 
the country, consistent with the principles of the Constitution, specifically on the 
right to life and human dignity, and the enshrined policy of an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development.
Moreover, this measure breathes life and gives a local framework to the 
international treaties providing for the right to food of which the Philippines is a state 
party.
Under Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and 
Cultural Rights;
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to 
an adequate standard of living for himself and his family. Including adequate 
food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous Improvement of living 
conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the 
realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of 
international cooperation based on free consent.
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental 
right of everyone to be free from hunger, shall take, individually and 
through international cooperation, the measures, including specific 
programmes... [emphasis supplied]
As guaranteed under Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 
which is considered as a milestone document in the history of human rights and 
paved the way for the adoption of many human rights treaties:
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and 
’ well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and 
medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the
httP5://psa.gov.Dh/5vstem/files/FY2018%20PS.pdf?width=95Q&height=700&iframe-true
2


event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack 
of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control, [emphasis supplied] 
Moreover, this bill is consistent with the attainment of Goal 2 of United 
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which seeks to end hunger, achieve 
food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. 
Specifically, Goal 2 targets to ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and 
people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient 
food all year round, to end all forms of malnutrition, and to address the nutritional 
needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactatlng women and older persons.
Lastly, this proposed measure is aligned with and further strengthens the 
current administration's laudable efforts to eradicate hunger, particularly Executive 
Order 101, s. 2020 which created an Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger. The 
task force is directed to ensure that government policies. Initiatives and projects on 
attaining zero hunger shall be coordinated, responsive and effective.
The Right to Adequate Food Bill was already passed by the House of 
Representatives on Third and Final Reading for two consecutive Congresses.
The passage of this bill is hereby earnestly sought.
RAMOiyBONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 30
BILLS ik INDEX
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO 
ADEQUATE FOOD
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the uKabaiikatsa Agrikultura
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at Pagkain Act"
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Consistent with the principles enshrined in the
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Constitution as well as the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic,
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Social and Cultural Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention
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on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, to which the
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Philippines is a State Party, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to guarantee
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the right to adequate food.
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Adequate food is not a matter of charity, but a legal entitlement. Hunger is
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inconsistent with human dignity and human rights, and must be eliminated. Towards
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this end, the State shall provide for a framework to address and eliminate hunger in
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an organized manner, and protect the right of the people to adequate food.
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Sec. 3. Definitions. — As used in this Act:
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a) Dietary needs refer to a mix of nutrients for physical and mental growth,
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development and maintenance, and physical activity, that follow human
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physiological needs at all stages throughout the life cycle, and according to
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gender and occupation;


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b) FoodvQfers to solid, liquid, and semi-liquid nourishment, as well as drinking 
water, and when taken into the body serves to nourish, build and repair 
tissues, supply energy or regulate body processes;
c) Food blockade refers to an act of cutting off food supplies from a particular 
area by force, either in part or totally;
d) Food emergency refers to a situation in which access to food is endangered, 
that caused by natural events like drought, floods, storms, earthquakes, or 
crop failures resulting from pests or diseases; or by human agency such as 
internal or international armed conflict; or infectious disease outbreaks or 
pandemics, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and 
Coronavirus-19 disease (Covid-19);
e) Food sovereignty refers to the right of people to healthy and culturally 
appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable 
methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems, 
putting the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and 
consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the 
demands of markets and corporations;
f) Hunger refers to a condition in which people do not get enough food to eat 
to provide the necessary nutrients for fully productive, active and healthy 
living due to the unavailability and inaccessibility of food, which may be (a) 
acute, such as during a major disaster when food supply channels are cut, 
(b) chronic, when people are regularly not getting enough food to conduct 
an active life for a long time, or (c) a condition of starvation, which is not 
having enough food of any sort to eat, or (d) undernourishment, which is 
having enough food to eat but of inadequate quality;
g) Vulnerable groups refer to those who are particularly disadvantaged such 
as indigenous peoples, ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities, persons with 
disabilities, persons living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or 
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), refugees and internally 
displaced people, elderly, women, including pregnant and lactating mothers 
and children, particularly those from zero to twenty-three (23) months of 
age.


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Sec. 4. Progressive Realization of the Right to Adeguate Food. - Every person
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has the right to have regular, permanent and unrestricted access, either directly or by
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means of financial purchases, to quantitatively and qualitatively adequate, sufficient
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and safe food, corresponding to the cultural traditions of the people to which a
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consumer belongs, and which ensure physical and mental, individual and collective,
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fulfilling and dignified life, free of fear.
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The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child, alone
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or in community with others, have physic of calories, proteins and other specific
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nutrients. The right to adequate food must be realized progressively.
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Sec. 5. Core content on the Right to Adequate Food. - The core content of the
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right to adequate food includes the concepts of food availability and accessibility,
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which must be in a quantity and quality sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of
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individuals, and In ways that are sustainable, and do not interfere with the enjoyment
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of other human rights.
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Sec. 6. Food Adequacy Standard. - Central to the realization of the right to
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adequate food is the standard of adequacy in terms of quality, quantity and cultural
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acceptability, sustainability of food availability and access.
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The standard of adequacy includes a number of factors which must be
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considered in determining whether particular foods or diets that are accessible can be
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considered the most appropriate under given circumstances. Sustainability is
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intrinsically linked to the concept of adequate food or food security, implying that food
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must be accessible to both present and future generations.
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The concept of adequacy to a large extent is determined by prevailing social,
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economic, cultural, climatic, ecological and other conditions, while sustainability
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incorporates long-term availability and accessibility.
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Sec. 7. Availability Standard. - Food must be available for feeding oneself
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directly from productive land or other natural resources, or for well-functioning
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distribution, processing, and market systems that can move food from the site of
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production to where it is needed on accordance with demand.
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Sec. 8. Accessibility Standard. - Food accessibility is both economic, which
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refers to the acquisition pattern or entitlement through which people procure their
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food, and physical food must be accessible to everyone.


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Economic accessibility means that the personal or household financial cost
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associated with the acquisition of food for an adequate diet should be at a level such
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that the attainment and satisfaction of other basic needs are not threatened or
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compromised. Economic accessibility applies to any acquisition pattern or entitlement
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through which people procure their food, and is a measure of the extent to which it is
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satisfactory for the enjoyment of the right to adequate food.
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Physical accessibility means that adequate food must be accessible to everyone,
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including physically vulnerable individuals, such as infants and young children, elderly
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people, those belonging to the informal sector, the physically disabled, the terminally
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ill and persons with persistent medical problems, including the mentally ill. Victims of
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natural disasters, people living in disaster-prone areas and other specially
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disadvantaged groups, and many indigenous peoples groups whose access to their
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ancestral lands is threatened, need special attention and priority consideration with
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respect to accessibility of food.
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Socially vulnerable groups such as landless persons and other particularly
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impoverished segments of the population may need attention through special
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programs.
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Sec. 9. Cultural or Consumer Acceptability. - In providing food, there is a need
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to consider, as far as possible, the perceived non-nutrient based values attached to
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food and the consumer's concerns on the accessible food supplies.
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Food must be free from adverse substances to ensure food safety. Measures
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must be taken to maintain, adapt, or strengthen dietary diversity and appropriate
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consumption and feeding patterns, including optimal breast-feeding, to ensure that
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changes in availability and access to food supply do not negatively affect dietary
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composition and intake. Care must also be taken to identify and avoid or destroy
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naturally occurring toxins.
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Freedom from adverse substances implies that the requirements for food safety
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and a range of protective measures are implemented to prevent contamination of food
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stuff through adulteration, bad environmental hygiene, or inappropriate handling at
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different stages throughout the food chain.
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Sec. 10. Conditions for the Exercise of the Right to Adequate Food. ~ Every
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person has the right to live in conditions that shall enable the person to:


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a) Acquire food directly from productive land or other natural resources; or
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rely on well-functioning food distribution, processing and market systems,
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or both;
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b) Financially acquire a sufficient quantity and quality of food and to satisfy
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other basic 
needs;
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c) Be safe from the risk of losing access to food, as a consequence of sudden
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shocks, like an economic or climatic crisis, or one that is brought about by
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internal displacements of people, or cyclical events, such as seasonal food
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insecurity;
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d) Have the opportunity of good food utilization through access to adequate
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diet, clean water, sanitation and health care and to reach a state of
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nutritional well-being, where all physiological needs are met; and
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e) Access food or diet that is the most appropriate under given circumstances,
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in terms of their nutritional value and cultural acceptability.
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Every infant, girl and boy, has a right to adequate food and to optimal health,
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development and nutrition adequate for their age, growth and development.
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Every woman has a right to adequate food and adequate nutrition during
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pregnancy and lactation.
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Unless it is provided by law, or is necessary for the purpose of a compelling
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public interest, and is compatible with the nature of the right to adequate food, there
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is no limitation on the right to adequate food.
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Sec. 11. Freedom from Hunger. - Every person has a right to be free from
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hunger. Every person suffering from hunger or under nutrition or at risk of suffering
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from hunger or under nutrition is entitled to a minimum amount of food according to
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one's age, sex, health status and occupation, as provided for in Section 19 of this Act.
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Sec. 12. Principles. - The provisions of this Act are founded on the rights-based
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principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination transparency, human
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dignity, empowerment, and rule of law, and are consistent with the progressive
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realization of the right to adequate food.
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Sec. 13. Non-discrimination. - Any distinction, exclusion, or restriction made on
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the basis of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
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social origin, property, birth or other status, which has the effect or purpose of


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impairing or limiting the capacity of an individual to exercise the right to adequate
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food, is unlawful and shall be sanctioned in accordance with law.
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All forms of discrimination against women with regard to the right to adequate
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food, including less favorable treatment of women for reasons of pregnancy and
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maternity, shall be eliminated and prevented. The equality of opportunities between
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men and women shall be promoted.
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The prohibition of discrimination shall not Include government action to remedy
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past effects of discrimination against particular individuals or groups and to promote
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equality of opportunities with regard to the right to adequate food.
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Sec. 14. Governmental Obligations. - The State, as the primary duty bearer,
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has the duty to respect, protect, and fulfil the right to adequate food and maintain
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food sovereignty, in accordance with the conditions provided under Section 10 of this
13 
Act.
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The State has the core obligation to take the necessary action to mitigate and
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alleviate hunger, even in times of natural or other disasters. The right to be free from
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hunger ensures a minimum daily nutritional intake and the bare survival of a person.
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The right to adequate food goes beyond freedom from hunger.
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a) Respect- the State has the obligation not to interfere with or impair the
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enjoyment of the right to adequate food. No public authority may deprive
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any person of food or means for its procurement, apply laws and
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regulations, or pursue a policy or practice, in a way that may result in
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preventing the enjoyment of or infringing the human right to adequate food,
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or repeal formally or suspend legislation necessary for the continued
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enjoyment of the right to adequate food.
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b) Protect- the State has the duty to provide guarantees against threats and
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risks stemming from private actors or societal forces that are controllable
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by State action. It shall take preventive measures necessary to protect
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persons whose capacities to access sufficient and adequate food or means
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for its procurement are endangered by the acts of others. It also must
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review the relevant administrative and legislative framework ensuring that
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activities within their competence undertaken by private actors do not
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infringe on the right to adequate food of others.


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c) Fulfill- the State shall facilitate the enjoyment of the right to adequate food
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by adopting or pursuing appropriate policies and measures that promote
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the human right to adequate food and to create and maintain conditions
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under which every person can freely and regularly enjoy the right to
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adequate food.
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Sec. 15. Targets. - The State shall ensure that in two and a half years (2 Vi)
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after the effectivity of this Act, the incidence of hunger is reduced by twenty-five
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percent (25%) from the level recorded at the time of the passage of this Act: Provided,
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That five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, such incidence of hunger will be
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further reduced by twenty-five percent (25%): Provided, further. That in seven and a
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half (7 Vi) years, the incidence of hunger will be further reduced by twenty-five
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percent (25%); Provided, finally. That in ten (10) years, there shall be zero hunger
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incidence.
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The State shall also ensure that within ten (10) years from the effectivity of this
15 
Act, land devoted to food production is increased to fifty percent (50%) of all prime
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agricultural land in every region, and within the same period, the State shall ensure
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that the following indicators are considerably and steadily increased:
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a) Percentage of development of ancestral lands;
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b) Percentage of rural population with access to productive resources;
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c) Share of budget spent on programs aimed at creating access to productive
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resources;
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d) Percentage of budget spent on agri-research, agri-extension, irrigation,
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training, technology, credits and rural development;
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e) Percentage of rural female-headed households, or rural women, with legal
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title to agriculture lands;
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f) Percentage of public budget allocation for social transfer programs to those
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unable to feed themselves;
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g) Coverage of marginalized and disadvantaged population taking part in social
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transfer programs;
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h) Percentage of marginalized and disadvantaged population covered by a
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public nutrition supplement program;


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i) Percentage of population aware of available food and nutrition programs; 
and
j) Coverage of school feeding programs.
The percentage rates used as indicators herein shall also be stipulated in the 
rules and regulations issued to implement the provisions of this Act.
Periodic reviews shall be undertaken to ensure compliance with set targets. In 
the implementation of this Act, priority shall be given to identify areas with chronically 
malnourished population. In measuring the Incidence of hunger, the key primary data 
sources will include national nutrition surveys of the Philippine Statistics Authority 
(PSA), namely the Family Income and Expenditure Survey and the Annual Poverty 
Indicators Survey, and global hunger indices as benchmarks.
Sec. 16. Institutional Responsibilities. - The following agencies of the 
government are required to fulfil their respective mandates in a manner that shall 
ensure full implementation of the primary objectives of this Act:
a) Department of Agriculture (DA);
b) Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);
c) Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
d) Department of Education (DepEd);
e) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
f) Department of Health (DOH);
g) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);
h) Department of Justice (DOJ);
i) Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
j) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
k) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
l) Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
m) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);
n) Commission on Human Rights (CHR);
o) Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
p) National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC);
q) National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA);
r) National Food Authority (NFA);


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s) National Nutrition Council (NNC);
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t) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and
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u) Other agencies and instrumentalities of the government whose functions
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are necessary for the efficient and effective implementation of the right to
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adequate food.
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In addition, the development of a fully integrated whole-of-government
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approach to implement the national policy governing the right to adequate food and
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the use of a human rights-based approach for the establishment and implementation
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of the national policy must be institutionalized.
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Sec. 17, Commission on the Right to Adequate Food. - There is hereby created
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a Commission on the Right to Adequate Food, hereinafter referred to as the
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Commission, which shall be attached to the Office of the President.
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The Commission shall be the primary policy-making and coordinating body to
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guarantee full exercise of the right to adequate food. It shall exercise monitoring and
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oversight functions, apply human rights principles, conduct objective impact
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assessment on all government policies, programs and projects prior to adoption and
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implementation, work in close cooperation, and coordination with relevant
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government agencies and in consultations with civil society organizations and the
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private sector, and use all available resources for the efficient and effective
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implementation of this Act.
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It shall formulate a national food policy consistent with the policy formulated
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by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Flunger. The Commission shall implement
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programs of action to eradicate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and
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promote sustainable agriculture.
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The Commission on the Right to Adequate Food shall have the following
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powers:
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a) Receive complaints of violations of the right to adequate food from
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individuals and groups;
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b) Investigate, motu propio, or upon complaint by any party, all forms of
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violations of the right to adequate food;


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c) Adopt operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for contempt
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individuals and groups for their violations in accordance with the Rules of
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Court;
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d) Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of the right to
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adequate food of all persons within the Philippines, as well as Philippine
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citizens residing abroad, and provide for preventive measures and legal aid
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services to the underprivileged whose right to adequate food has been
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violated or needs protection;
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e) Establish a continuing program of research, education and information to
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enhance respect for the primacy of the right to adequate food;
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f) Recommend to Congress effective measures to promote the right to
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adequate food, to harmonize existing laws affecting the right to adequate
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food, to ensure their complementation, and the availability of remedies for
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violations and compensation to victims of violations of the right to adequate
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food;
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g) Monitor the Government's compliance with its obligations in regard to the
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right to adequate food;
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h) Request the assistance of any department, bureau, office or agency in the
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performance of its functions;
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i) Appoint officers and employees in accordance with law; and
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j) Perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.
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Sec. 18. Composition. - The Commission is composed of a chairperson and two
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(2) members who must be natural-born citizens; at least thirty-five (35) years of age,
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at the time of their appointment; and must not have been candidates for any elective
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position in the elections immediately preceding their appointment. At least one (1) of
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them must be a member of the Philippine Bar.
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The Chairperson and members of the Commission shall not, during their tenure,
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hold any other office or employment. Neither shall they engage in the practice of any
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profession, or in the active management or control of any business which, in any way,
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may affect the functions of their office, nor shall they be financially interested, directly
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or indirectly. In any contract with, or in any franchise or privilege granted by the
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government, any of its subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, including
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government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries.
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The Chairperson and members of the Commission shall be appointed by the
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President and shall not be reappointed to another term. From among the members,
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one (1) shall serve as the chairperson and shall hold office for ten (10) years, another
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member shall be appointed as Commissioner for seven (7) years, and another shall
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be appointed Commissioner and shall serve for five (5) years, without reappointment.
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A member who shall be appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only the unexpired
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portion of the term of the predecessor. In no case shall any member be appointed or
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designated in a temporary or acting capacity.
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The Chairperson and members of the Commission shall receive the same salary,
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benefits, privileges and emoluments of a cabinet secretary and undersecretary
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respectively.
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Sec. 19. Standards on the Amount of Food. - Within one (1) year from the
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effectivity of this Act, the Commission shall, in consultations with the DSWD, DILG,
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NNC and the DOH, issue guidelines on the minimum amount of food for persons who
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are suffering from hunger or undernourishment, or are at risk from suffering from
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hunger of undernourishment, but who cannot take care of their own needs, due to
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reasons beyond their control, including children whose parents die or disappear, or
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otherwise no longer take care of them, elderly, and persons with disabilities. The
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guidelines include:
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a) The exact quantity of calories, proteins and micronutrients, to which the
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minimum amount of food will correspond, according to the age, sex, health
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status and occupation of a person;
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b) A simple and accessible application or certification procedure for the
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minimum amount of food entitlement with transparent, fair and non-
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discriminatory eligibility or certification criteria; and
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c) Relief mechanisms to ensure that such individuals are provided with their
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minimum food requirement.
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Specific support measures shall be designed and adopted to prevent or
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compensate for disadvantages of the identified vulnerable persons or groups suffer
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from, with regard to the enjoyment of their right to adequate food.
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Sec. 20 Emergencies. - The Commission in coordination with the National
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Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shall:
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a) Provide food emergency responses which sufficiently cover both early
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warning responses and disaster preparedness in case of a crisis; and
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organize and manage food responses efficiently and effectively;
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b) Ensure that food supply responses are compatible with the right to adequate
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food and international standards regulating emergencies; and
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c) Initiate requests for international assistance in case of necessity; and
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supervise and coordinate properly the distribution of food to intended
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recipients.
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Sec. 21. Information Dissemination. - All government agencies, under the
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direction of the Commission in coordination with the Philippine News Agency (PNA)
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and Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall:
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a) Inform the population about the rights established In this Act and the
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implementing rules and regulations adopted upon its passage into law and
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other measure taken for the purpose of facilitating and promoting the
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realization of the right to adequate food; and
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b) Use the most appropriate ways and methods of disseminating information
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by providing information through all media forms; and in local languages,
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notably in the most marginalized areas and among populations with a high
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rate of illiteracy.
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Sec. 22. Education and Awareness Program. - The Commission, in coordination
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with the DedEd, CHED, and TESDA, shall ensure that:
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a) School curriculum includes material related to food and nutrition education,
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the right to adequate and human rights principles; and
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b) Relevant adult education and training programs shall include materials
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related to food and nutrition, the right to adequate food and human rights
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principles.
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Sec. 23. International Cooperation. - The Commission, in coordination with the
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CHR and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), shall:
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a) Ensure that activities undertaken in other countries, including those by
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private actors, do not infringe on the enjoyment of the right to adequate
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food by people in the concerned countries, in coordination with DA, DTI,
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DOH, and NEDA and other relevant agencies;
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b) Promote international cooperation and help to ensure the realization of the
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right to adequate food in other countries, if in a position to do so; and
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c) Ensure that international and other agreements which the Philippine
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Gove»'nrnent enters into, consider the guarantee on the right to food.
7 
Sec. 24. Monitoring and Evaluation System. - There shall be an integrated
8 
monitoring system that shall ensure that all government agencies at all levels, under
9 
the supervision of the Commission on the Right to Adequate Food, shall:
10 
a) Collect data related to food and nutrition security, using monitoring
11 
methodologies and processes consistent with human rights principles;
12 
b) Disaggregate collected data by age, sex, income, bracket, civil status and
13 
ethnicity;
14 
c) Monitor progress achieved in the realization of the right to adequate food;
15 
and
16 
d) Establish or identify an early warning mechanism for food supply shortages
17 
and emergencies.
18 
Sec. 25. Representation and Participation of People's Organizations and Civil
19 
Society. - To guarantee public participation, the Commission shall ensure that:
20 
a) All persons can freely and meaningfully participate in all forms of public
21 
discourse, access information and exercise freedom of association, in
22 
relation to the formulation and implementation of policies pertaining to the
23 
right to adequate food;
24 
b) Civil society and other stakeholders actively participate in the institutions
25 
that oversee the realization of the right to adequate food, as well as in
26 
formulating capacity building mechanisms and special measures for
27 
disadvantaged groups; and
28 
c) National public hearings are conducted every two (2) years, at which the
29 
government is required to report on the progress made with the
30 
implementation of this Act, and progressive realization of the right to
31 
adequate food in the country.
13


1 
Sec. 26. Pena!Provisions. - The penalty of imprisonment of six (6) months and
2 
one (1) day to six (6) years, or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
3 
(PlOO,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or
4 
both, at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person who causes the
5 
starvation or denial of the access to food of any particular individual or group, through
6 
the commission of any of the following acts:
7 
a) Blockade;
8 
b) Refusal to implement a food-related program;
9 
c) Discrimination in implementing a food-related program;
10 
d) Negligence in implementing food-related programs; resulting in death;
11 
e) Obstructing access to food in time of calamity or war;
12 
0 Theft, corruption or black marketeering of food being given as humanitarian
13 
aid, in times of calamity or war;
14 
g) Distribution of expired, or unsafe food at a school feeding program or other
15 
feeding program, in times of calamity or war;
16 
h) Contamination of food or water sources, through mining activities aerial
17 
spraying of plantations, or any other similar means; and
18 
i) Other analogous acts.
19 
Provided, That the penalty is imposable without prejudice to any other criminal,
20 
civil or administrative liability under existing laws. If the act committed is food
21 
blockade during armed conflict, the penalty Imposable shall be without prejudice to
22 
the application of Republic Act No. 9851 or the "Philippine Act on Crimes Against
23 
International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other Crimes against Humanity," and
24 
other relevant laws.
25 
Sec. 27. Civil and Administrative Liabilities. - The government shall ensure the
26 
enjoyment of the rights guaranteed in this Act and perform the duties provided for In
27 
this Act. Appropriate cases may be filed before the courts to compel compliance with
28 
the provisions of this Act. These cases shall be without prejudice to liability for
29 
damages and administrative liability that may be incurred.
30 
If the violator is a public official or employee, in addition to the penalty of
31 
imprisonment or fine or both, the accessory penalty of perpetual absolute
32 
disqualification to hold public office shall be imposed.
14


1 
Sec. 28. Appropriations. - There shall be an allocation in the annual budget
2 
specifically for the purposes in the implementation of the right to adequate food, in
3 
accordance with priorities set by the Commission on the Right to Adequate Food. The
4 
allocation shall be aimed at the progressive realization of the right to adequate food
5 
over the long term.
6 
Sec. 29. Impiementing Ruies and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
7 
the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the Commission, shall. In coordination
8 
with the CHR, DA, DAR, DSWD, DOH, DTI, DPWH, NEDA, NNC, and NAPC and people's
9 
organizations and human rights nongovernmental organizations, promulgate the
10 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
11 
Sec. 30. Rationalization of Policies. - All existing policies, laws, decrees,
12 
executive orders, memorandum orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders,
13 
and ordinances shall be rationalized and interpreted in a way that shall guarantee the
14 
realization of the right to adequate food as provided for by this Act.
15 
Cabinet secretaries and other executive authorities involved in the
16 
implementation of the right to adequate food shall report on a regular basis to the
17 
Commission on the Right to Adequate Food on legislative and regulatory measures
18 
that have been formulated and adopted, and the time frames within which they are
19 
envisaged to achieve their objectives In order to achieve zero hunger.
20 
Sec. 31. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
21 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
22 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
23 
Sec. 32. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
24 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order., rule, or regulation contrary to or
25 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
26 
accordingly.
27 
Sec. 33. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
28 
publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
15