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

EPR,
(E* “Ay
fs? RECEIVED "A

= ATE
\an
we

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, __934

Intrndnend hy Representative FDTTARNO R. RAMA, JR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the latest report by the United Nations on Food Security and Nutrition, the Philippines
finds itself grappling with an alarming rise in hunger incidence, positioning it as one of the most
food insecure nations in the Southeast Asia region.’ Food security is defined as the “situation
where all people have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food

y nccds and foud prefcrenecs for an active and hes

which results in food insecurity.

As the Philippines contends with a looming food crisis and inflation, hunger and
malnutrition continue to plague countless Filipino families. According to the Philippine Institute
for Development Studies (“PIDS”), many Filipino households are unable to consume autitious
food as thi
development of children hampers them from acquiring and enhancing necessary cognitive and

is becoming less affordable and inaccessible.’ Consequently, the mental and physical
non-cognitive skills which creates a functioning and skilled labor force.*

In line with the government's efforts to address these pressing issues head-on, this
legislation aims to strengthen and institutionalize the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program
of the Department of Social Welfare and Development(“DSWD”). The aforementioned program

(D's maior programs initiated under the leadership of Secretary Revlon “Rex” T

is one of DS'

+ Jocson, LMJC (14 July 2023) Nearly 51M Filipinos face food insecurity-UN Report. Business
World
Online. https:/twww.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2023/07/14/534036/nearly-51m-filipinos-
face-foo d-insecurity-un-report

2 Suansing, B. (02 November 2017). What causes Food insecurity in the Philippines. Borgen
‘Magazine. https:/iwww borgenmagazine.com/causes-food-insecurity-in-the-philippines!.

3 Inquirer ( 23 July 2022). No Filipinos Should Go Hungry. Philippine institute for Development
‘Stuoies. htips:/iwww.pids.gov.ph/detaiis/news/in-the-news/no-fiipino-should-go-hungry.

4 inquirer ( 11 April 2023). The Real Cost of Malnutrition. Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
httos:/Awww. pids. gov. hidetails/news/in-the-news/the-real-cost-of-malnutrition.


Gatchalian to address the social and developmental needs of Filipinos. At its core, the program
secks to extend a lifeline to eligible Filipino houscholds through a monthly augmentation provision
of at icast Three Thousand Pesos (PiP3,000.00) via the Biectronie Benetit Transier (EBT) Card.
Beyond mere sustenance, this initiative also serves as a gateway to employment opportunities for

its beneficiaries, fostering economic resilience and empowerment within our communities,

E
consideration of our nation’s agenda. In our pursuit of improving the socioeconomic fabric of

ting hunger. achieving food security. and improving nutrition must be a paramount
society, no Filipino should be left hungry.

Given the urgency of this Bill, its enactment is highly suggested.

a

REP, EDUARDO ROA RAMA, JR.
2" District, City of Cebu


wad)

12

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

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

534

Introduced by Representative EDUARDO R. RAMA, JR.

House Bill No.

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING AND STRENGTHENING THE FOOD STAMP

PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Food Stamp Program Act of
2025”,

SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy — The State commits to adopting an integrated
and comprehensive approach to ensure the availability of essential goods and social services to all
citizens at an affordable cost, thereby fostering national prosperity and enhancing the quality of life.

SECTION 3. Objective. — The bill seeks to institutionalize the food stamp program of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (“DWSD”), with the primary goal of mitigating
hunger and malnutrition among the most vulnerable sectors in society, particularly impoverished
Filipino houscholds, through the monthly provision of meal augmentation valued at Three Thousand
Pesos (PhP3,000.00).

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall

be understood as follows:


Pree)

Account Number — the unique number on the electronic benefit wansfer card of the
beneficiary.

Beneficiary — refers to households who are eligible to receive cash assistance through the
electronic benefit transfer card under this Act.

Beneficiary- holder — refers to the person named in the electronic benefit transfer card who
belongs to a household beneficiary.

Competent Evidence of Identity — refers to the identification of an individual based on (a)
at least one (1) current identification issued by a government agency bearing the photograph and the
signature of the individual; or (b) the oath or affirmation of onc credible witness not privy to the
instrument, document or transaction who is personally known to the notary public and who personally
knows the individual, or of two credible witnesses neither of whom is privy to the instrument,
document of transaction who each personally knows the individual and shows to the notary public
documentary identification.

jc Readet — scfeis iu a haudwase device trai cans toad plasiie ands aud decode ihe

information embedded in the card with a magnetic strip or microchip.

Food Items — shall refer to food or food products intended for home preparation and human
consumption, including crops, seeds, and plants. This shall also include common foods identified by
the Food and Nuwition Research insticute as the daily nutritional guide for every

Filipino.

Gross Monthly Income — the monthly houschoid income before deductions are app!

Housel guia aud propace aud puretase

meals together.

Marginalized or disadvantaged sectors — include sectors of farmer-peasant, artisanal
fisherfolk, workers in the formal sector and migrant workers; workers in the informal sector;
indigenous peopies and cuiturai communities; women; differendy-abied persons; senior citizens;
victims of calamities and disasters; youth and students; children; urban poor; cooperatives; and non-

government organization.

formation whether recorded in a material form or not, from

Personal Information — any
which the identity of an individual is apparent or can be reasonably and directly ascertained by the



1 entity holding the information, or when put together with other information would directly and

certainly identify an individual.

3 Personal Identification Number (PIN) — a secret number created by the beneficiary for
4 _ his or her electronic benefit transfer card to pay for the food items purchased under this Act.

Point of Sale (POS) Terminal — a complete payment system that facilitates the
6 authentication of payments using cards.

“3

Poor Houschold — rcfers to houscholds living below the poverty threshold.

y Theechold

meee the basic food and non-food requirements, as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

income requized for a family of individual to
come required os indi

10 Sensitive Personal Information — covers personal information: (1) about an individual's
11 race, ethnic origin, marital status, age, color, and religious, philosophical, or political affiliations; (2)

12 about an individuai’s
13. offense committed or alleged to have been committed by such person, the disposal of such

sith, education, genetic, or sexual life uf 4 person, or w any proceeding for any

14 proceedings, or the sentence of any court in such proceedings; (3) issued by government agencies
15 peculiar to an individual which includes, but not limited to, social security numbers, previous ot current
16 health records, licenses or their denials, suspension or revocation, and tax returns; and (4) specifically
17 established by executive order or an act of Congress to be kept classified.

8 For purposes of this Aci, this shall uso include the pessumal identification nutuber and account
19 assigned to the beneficiary in his or her electronic benefits transfer card,

20 SECTION 5. Identification of Eligible beneficiaries. — To be eligible under the program,
21 the household must be earning a gross monthly income falling below the official poverty threshold as
22 determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (“PSA”),

2B Households that have at least one (1) member belonging to marginalized or disadvantaged

groups, as listed in Republic Act No. 8425 and the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, whose
25 income falls below the poverty threshold or cannot afford to provide their basic needs, or identified
26 a8 “poor” bythe National Targeting Household System for Poverty Reduction (‘NHTS-PR’), also



wre

2
23
24
25

27

28
29

SECTION 6. Application for Food Stamp Program. — Individuals meeting the beneficiary
ctiteria may apply for the program by submitting competent evidence of identity and relevant

documents co their iocal DSWD offices.

Upon approval, beneficiaries shall undergo orientation regarding their rights and obligations
under this Act, as well as the utilization of Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards.

SECTION 7. Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards. — Eligible beneficiaries shall be issued
Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards (“EBT”) cards by the DSWD, each equipped with a corresponding
Pessonal Identification Number (“PIN”) and valid for one (1) year frum issuance. Monthly,
beneficiaries will receive Three Thousand Pesos (PhP3,000.00) or more, during government-declared

al cancapencics, accesible dhccuagh theiz DBT ca

‘These cards are intended for purchasing food items recommended by the Food and
Nutrition Research Institute (“FNRI”) from accredited local retailers, with certain exclusions such as
alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, vitamins, medicine, supplements, and non-food items.

‘The processing of beneficiary personal information and sensitive data shall adhere to the
standasds set forth in Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act.

sEcr

WD, in parnership

i partnership
the Department of Agriculture (“DA”) and the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTV”), shall
facilitate the identification, registration, and accreditation of partner merchants and local retailers.

Local vendors, micro-small, and medium-sized enterprises, and local retailers selling food items may

apply as partner merchants and accreditation. Only those purchases made from accredited merchants

and retailers sail be credited 10 the EBT account of the beneficiary.

Upon accreditation, the merchants and retailers shall be provided with an electronic reader ot
4 point of sale terminal (“POS”) by the DSWD, where the beneficiary holder can run through the
EBT card when paying for the food items. Every receipt issued after purchase shall show the amount
remaining in the EBT account.

The DSWD shail coordinate with the DA to register and accredit Kadiwa Centers, and local
farmers as partner merchants and local retailers,

SECTION 9. Obligation of Beneficiary-holders. — Beneficiary-holders are mandated to
utilize EBT cards exclusively for purchasing food items from accredited merchants and retailers.


ene

at

22
23

24

25
26
oa
28

30

Unauthorized lending of EBT cards is prohibited, except in exceptional circumstances with prior
houschold authorization, In cases of card loss or damage, notification to the DSWD within a

period and an affidavit of ioss is required for the issuance of a repiacement EBT card.

Beneficiary-holders and their households are further obliged to attend capacity-building
sessions and community assemblies organized by the DSWD and Department of Health (“DOH”)
and participate in job-generating programs facilitated by the Department of Labor and Employment
(‘DOLE’) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (“TESDA”) to ensure
sustained benefits.

SECTION 10. Obiigation of Partner Merchants and Local Reiailers. — Paruner merchants
and local retailers must verify the identity of EBT holders before conducting transactions, and display
conspicuous signage indicating cheie accrediadion satus and accepance of EBT cards, These
establishments are also required to maintain separate inventories for EBT purchases and uphold
confidentiality in processing beneficiary personal and sensitive information, in compliance with the
Digital Privacy Act.

SECTION 11. Capacity Building. — The DSWD shall organize community assemblies
focusing on health, nutrition education, and mentoring sessions to enhance beneficiary productivity
and compliance with program requirements.

SECTION 12, Loiploymiont of Beneficiaries, — Dencliciatics asc encouraged tw paiticipane
in job fairs, vocational training, livelihood programs, and community-based employment initiatives
facilitated by the DSWD, DOLE, and TESDA.

Assistance in processing job requirements shall be provided to household beneficiaries.

SECTION 13. Role of the Local Government Units. — Local government units (“LGUs”)
are tasked with collaborating with the DSWD in identifying, selecting beneficiaries, and monitoring
program compliance within their respective jurisdictions.

SECTION 14. Tax Liability. — Transactions under this Act shall be subject to tax under
the National Internal Revenue Code (“NIRC”), except if the sale involves agricultural and marine
products, livestock, or pouluy of a kind, sale of food items to Senior Citizens and Persons with
Disability, or where the sale of food items have a gross annual sale and/or receipts do not exceed the

amount of Thuce Million Pesos (PhP3,000,000.00) which are exerupted from value-added eax under

Section 109(1) of the NIRC.


aueewion

SO

No provision of this Act shall prejudice the rights of the merchants, retailers, and beneficiary-
holders under the NIRC.

SECTION 15. Technical Working Group. — A technical working group shall be formed to
formulate the rules and regulations governing the implementation of this Act. It shall be presided by
the Secretary of DSWD or his or her representative, and co-chaired by the Secretary of DOLE or his
or her representative.

‘The following government agencies shall be the members of the group: DA, DTT, DOH,
Department of — Scienceand Technology (“DOST™}, Department of
Information and Communications Technology (“DICT”), and the National Privacy Commission

CNPC).

SECTION 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DSWD and the technical working group shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 17. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 19. Soparability Cla Tf, for any ‘Act chall be

deemed unconstitutional and invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected and

shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. — Ali laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules,
and regulations, contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are repealed or amended

accordingiy.

SECTION 20. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,