Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA AND 
HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Code of Sanitation of the Philippines is one of the most ignored laws in the country despite 
its sheer importance in our daily lives. The penalties provided are simply not enough to prevent 
the rampant disregard by certain establishments of safety, sanitation and health. On the other 
hand, complaints are most often inconvenient, costly, and unfruitful.  
This bill seeks the increase in the penalty for violations provided under the Sanitation Code of 
the Philippines and to add protection to the public against acts inimical to food handling and 
preparation procedures.  
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mishandled or improperly prepared food 
could cause more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhea to cancers. In the Philippines, 
over 17,000 people had acute bloody diarrhea in 2018 because of food-borne diseases.1 
The recent Covid-19 pandemic have shown how vulnerable our sanitation systems are. There 
is no better time to update the penalties in our Code of Sanitation than now. Food businesses 
are everywhere, and food options are increasing in variety. People are eating out more and 
more either to save money or for sheer lack of time. Hence, this affects almost all sectors of 
society. 
For the State, the protection of the health of the people is of paramount importance. The 
proposed stiffer penalties are intended to exact the accountability and responsibility to comply 
with the requirements of law regarding proper food handling and sanitation from all those 
involved. 
In consideration of the foregoing premises, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
1 https://www.who.int/philippines/news/commentaries/detail/food-safety-is-everybody-s-responsibility 
August 23, 2022
2:00 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT 
PENALIZING ACTS INIMICAL TO PROPER FOOD HANDLING AND 
PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS, AS PROVIDED BY CHAPTER III OF 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 856, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CODE ON 
SANITATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING THE 
PENALTY FOR VIOLATION THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. In the interest of protecting the public against acts inimical to proper for 
handling and preparation processes, Chapter III of Presidential Decree No. 856 is 
hereby amended for Sec. 33 to be interested and real as follows: 
CHAPTER III – Food Establishments 
Sec.33 (A) Penal Provision – 
(i)
Penalty for persons committing violation/s in the proper handling and
preparation of food, as provided in this chapter – for placing the lives and health of the 
general public at risk, employees and/or other persons who directly commit violations 
in the proper handling and preparation of food, as provided by this chapter , shall be, 
without prejudice to other criminal and/or civil actions available to government and 
members of the general public, penalized by imprisonment for a period of not less than 
SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE (1) Day but not exceeding FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 
5,000.00) or BOTH, depending upon the discretion of the court. 
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(ii) 
Penalty for the owners, employers, supervisors, or persons otherwise 
performing similar tasks or functions in the establishments where violation/s in the 
proper handling and preparation of food, as provided in this chapter, occurred – for 
placing lives and health of the general public at risk through their fault, negligence or 
otherwise, in hiring, supervising, ot other acts falling short of the due diligence required 
by law in the management of food establishment, owners, employers, supervisors, 
managers, and other persons who are required by law to exercise due diligence in 
protecting the sanctity of food, and patently failing to exercise such as evident on the 
violation/s in the proper handling and preparation of food in the establishment they 
own, manage, supervise or persons otherwise performing similar tasks or functions, 
as provided by this chapter, shall be, without prejudice to other criminal and/or civil 
actions available to the government and members of the general public, penalized by 
imprisonment for a period of not less than SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE DAY (1) but 
not exceeding FOUR (4) YEARS or by a fine not exceeding FIVE THOUSAND PESOS 
(P 5,000.00) or BOTH, depending upon the discretion of the court. 
 
(iii) 
Penalty for the provincial, City or Municipal Health officer in Charge of ensuring 
the implementation of this Code in the locality where the persons stated in the two 
preceding subsections who have done acts inimical to the sanitation requirements in 
violation/s of the proper handling and preparation of food, as provided by this chapter 
occurred – for placing lives and health of the general public at risk through the GROSS 
NEGLIGENCE and/or DERELICTION OF THEIR DUTY, as provided by this chapter, 
the Provincial, City, Or Municipality Heath Officer shall be, without prejudice to other 
criminal and/or civil actions available to the government and members of the general 
public, penalized by imprisonment for a period of not less than SIX (6) MONTHS AND 
ONE (1) DAY but not exceeding FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 5,000.00), Depending 
upon the discretion of the court. 
 
(iv) 
For Placing lives and health of the general public at risk the WILLFUL, 
FELONIOUS AND CRIMINAL CONNIVANCE,, CONSPIRACY AND OTHER SIMILAR 
ACTS with the owners, employees, supervisors, or persons otherwise performing 
similar tasks or functions in the establishments where violation/s in the proper handling 
and preparation of food, as provided in this chapter, occurred, or with the persons 


committing violation/s in the proper handling and preparation of food, as provided in 
this chapter, the provincial, City or Municipal Health Officer shall be, without prejudice 
to other criminal and/or civil actions available to government and members of the 
general public, penalized by imprisonment for a period of not less than SIX (6) 
MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY but not exceeding SIX (6) YEARS or a fine not exceeding 
TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P 10,000.00) or BOT, and shall be ABSOLUTELY 
DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE, depending on the discretion of 
the court. 
 
SECTION 2. This Act shall effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a Newspaper of General Circulation. 
 
Approved,