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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 836

Introduced by Representative Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was previously filed by former Representative Maria Leonor G. Robredo,
now Vice President, during the 16t Congress with the objective of institutionalizing
the National Feeding Program, establishing government support to small scale
producers, and creating a National Food Security Council where all pertinent sectors
are duly represented.

Poverty, with its multifarious permutations, has long bedevilled the Philippines,
spawning, in the process, innumerable initiatives aimed at alleviating, if not totally
eradicating, it. Yet, it still persists and even threatens to undermine the strides the
nation has made in strengthening democratic processes. This bill is an audacious
attempt to address poverty at its core, taking into account the vulnerable sectors of
the community and the vital services they provide to sustain national development
and stability.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is urgently sought.

rode
ibriel H/Bordado, J¥.

Representative, Third District of Camarines Sur


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo:__ 836

Introduced by Representative Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr.

“AN ACT CREATING A SYSTEM OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR
ADDRESSING THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE
PROVIDING FOR ITS PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

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 “National Food Security Act of 2019”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is, hereby, declared a policy of the State to develop, create, and
implement a nationwide feeding program to alleviate poverty and hunger in the country. The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, ratified by the Philippines, states everyone has the right to a standard of living
adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food. Furthermore, the
Constitution states “The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instil health
consciousness among them.”

Chapter |
National Feeding Program

Sec. 3. National Feeding program — There is, hereby, established a National Feeding Program which shall
aim to alleviate hunger and malnutrition for children ages 0 - 13 years old.

Sec. 4. Creation of a National Hunger Targeting System — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in
coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Health
(DOH) shall establish a nationwide database that identifies groups andlor individuals that have the least
access to proper nutrition. The database shall identity the most vulnerable groups andior individuals to be
listed as beneficiaries

Sec. 5. Infant feeding program - The DOH, in consultation with DSWD, shall create a system of
distribution through the Barangay Health Workers of food packets for those targeted by the system created
in this Act. The said food packets shall supplement the nutritional and dietary needs of children ages 0 - 1
year olds.


Sec. 6. Supplementary Feeding Program - The DSWD shall ensure that children ages 2 — 5 receive the
proper nutrients and diet while under their care. Beneficiaries shall be given meals that will meet their
nutritional needs. The DSWD may consult with the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to meet the proper
nutritional and dietary needs of the children. The following shall be the beneficiaries:

a) Children 2-4 years old in the Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) Area;
b) Children 3 - 4 years old enrolled in Day Care Centers (DDC); and

¢) Children 5 years old not enrolled in the Department of Education (DepEd) preschool system but
enrolled in DDCs.

Sec. 7. Elementary Feeding School Program - The Department of Education (DepEd) shall ensure that
students from Kindergarten to Grade 4 are given the proper meals during school hours. Such meals should
contain the proper nutritional and dietary needs of students. The DepEd shall consult the NC nutritional
and dietary specifics

Chapter Ii
Procurement

Sec. 8. Procurement of Produce - The Government is, hereby, mandated to ensure that 30% or more of
the supplies needed to implement the National Feeding Program are procured from Small-Scale Producers.

Sec. 9. Registry of Small-Scale Producers - The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall keep and regularly
update a list of Small-Scale Producers. It shall use Registry for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA),
Regional Field Office (RFO) list of beneficiaries, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ National
Program for Municipal Fisher folk Registration (BFAR FishR) for fisherfolk, and any other list it may deem
necessary to keep the registry up to date. Furthermore, the DA is required to coordinate with the DSWD to
cross-match and compare the registry with the DSWD's National Household Targeting System for Poverty
Reduction (NHTS-PR) to avoid duplication and redundancy.

Sec. 10. Procurement process for Small-Scale Producers — For the purposes of this act, procurement
from Small Scale producers shall be exempted from the procurement process as stated in Republic Act
No.9184, otherwise known as the Procurement Law. Provided, small scale producers shall undergo
Negotiated Procurement Participation under the guidelines of the Government Procurement Policy Board
(GPPB) and specified under this act.

Sec. 11.Negotiated Procurement Participation - Small Scale Producers shall enter a Negotiated
Procurement with the government under the guidelines of the GPPB when the following conditions are met:

a) DA Validation — certification from the DA andior any of its tasked agency that the individual or family
is indeed included in the Registry of Small scale farmers.

b) Produce/Product Sustainability — when participants have the ability to continue to meet the demand
for their produce or product for prolonged periods of time, with or without government intervention.


°)

Community Enrichment - when there is a viable means of improving the well-being of the community
where the small scale farmers are situated. This seeks to extend the benefits that may arise from the
contract between the small scale farmers and the goverment. The goal is to achieve positive
‘outcomes such as like poverty reduction, access to education, equitable distribution and management
of natural resources, climate change adaptation/mitigation, disaster risk reduction, gender equality,
disease reduction, and job generation, among others.

Sec. 12. Support Services for Small-Scale Producers under the Department of Agriculture ~The DA
shall institute the following benefits for Small-Scale Producers as contained in their registry.

a)

b)

0)

d)

@)

Training on Production, Harvesting, Procurement Process of this Act, and any other topic the DA
sees fit;

Subsidized Farm Equipment

Faxilties for storage and harvesting
Capacity Building for Small-Scale Farmer
‘Access to Crop Insurance

Access to credit/low interest rates

Sec. 13. Support Services for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries who are Small-Scale Producers - The
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) shall institute the folowing benefits for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
who are Small-Scale Producers as contained in their list of beneficiaries:

b)

°)

d)

e)

Training on Production, Harvesting, Procurement Process of this Act, and any other topic the DAR
sees fit;

Subsidized Farm Equipment;

Facilies for storage and harvesting;
Capacity Building for Small-Scale Farmer,
Access to Crop Insurance;

Access to creditow interest rates.

Chapter ll
Food Council

Sec. 14. National Food Security Council - A National Food Security Council, hereafter referred to as
Council, is hereby created as an attached and independent agency to the Office ofthe President,


Sec. 15. Mandate of the Council - The Council is mandated to act as the check and balance organization
for the food security system. It shall oversee the effective distribution, procurement, and targeting of
beneficiaries as mandated in this Act. It shall also serve as a coordinating body for the different departments
involved in the implementation of this Act.

Sec. 16. Chairperson of the Council - The Chairperson of the Council shall be appointed to a six year
term by the President of the Philippines. No person may be Chairperson if he has not met the following
criteria:

E)

Ten (10) years of work experience in a CSO involved in Food Security;
b)

Has no relatives, to the second degree of consanguinity, in the government

°)

Has good moral character
d)

No pending cases
Sec. 17. Membership of the Council - The Council shall consist ofthe following members:

Representative from the Department of Agriculture;

b) Representative from the Department of Agrarian Reform

©) Representative from the Department of Social Welfare and Development
4d) Representative from the Department of Interior and Local Government

@)

Representative from the Department of Education
) Representative from the Department of Health

g) Representative from the National Nutritional Council

h) Representative from the Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition
Research Institute

i) Four (4) Representatives from Civil Society involved in Food Security or Hunger alleviation

j) Four (4) Representatives from Small-Scale Producers group
Sec. 18. Representatives from Civil Society involved in Food Security or Hunger Alleviation - The
Representatives for Civil Society shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, No Representative may be appointed or
recommended if he has not met the following criteria:

a) Five (5) years of service under a Civil Society Organization involved in Food Security or
Hunger Alleviation;

b) Has no position in any government agency or office;


©) Has no relatives, to the second degree of consanguinity, in the government;

4d) Has good moral character;

e) No pending cases
Sec. 19. Representatives from Small-Scale Producers group - The Representatives for Small-Scale
Producers shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the
Department of Agriculture. No Representative may be appointed or recommended if he has not met the
following criteria

a) Five (5) years as a practicing Small-Scale Producer,
f)

Has no position in any government agency or office;

°c) Has no relatives, to the second degree of consanguinity, in the government;

d) Has good moral character; and

e) Nopending cases
Sec. 20. Appropriations - The funds needed to implement this Act shall be included in the annual General
‘Appropriations Act.
Sec. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the appointment its
members, the Council shall promulgate such rules and regulations necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act.

Sec. 22. Separability Clause. - if any provision of this Act is subsequently declared invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in ful fore and effect.

Sec. 23. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation,

Approved.