SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
Third Regular Session )

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodrigua
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 6385
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides:

Article Il, Section 9, The State shall promote a just and
dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty
through policies that provide adequate social services,
promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an
improved quality of life for all.

Article 11, Section 15. The State shall protect and promote
the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them

Article Xill, Section 5, The State shall recognize the right of
farmers, farmworkers, and landowners, as well as
cooperatives, and other independent farmers’ organizations
to participate in the planning, organization, and management
of the program, and shall provide support to agriculture
through appropriate technology and research, and adequate
financial, production, marketing, and other support services.

Further, Article 25, Section 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states
that,

“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for
the health and well-being of himself and of his family,
including food."

As a signatory of the international policy, the Philippines commits to provide every
Filipino access to adequate food and nutrition and to ensure that every family has a
way to raise their income above the poverty threshold

While we have government programs currently addressing hunger and malnutrition
in the country, these are not enough as eradicating hunger needs more. We need an
integrated anti-hunger mechanism that also aims to alleviate poverty.


This bill specifies actions the State must take to combat hunger and poverty,
including the institutionalization of a National Feeding Program, the streamlining of
food procurement and food distributions systems, and the creation of a structured
demand that ensures and raises the income of poor people, who are mostly small-
scale food producers incapable of competing with big industry producers, in the hope
that the produce that free Filipinos from hunger are the same produce that free our
people from poverty.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested

“

RUFYS B. Room KuEz
MAXIMO B. OE es JR.


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
_ Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. _

House Bill No. _6385

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’.

Section 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 instill health consciousness among them."

Chapter |
National Feeding Program

Section 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

Section 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 the Department of Health (DOH) shall establish a
nationwide database that identifies groups and/or individuals that have the least
access to proper nutrition. The database shall identify the most vulnerable groups
and/or individuals to be listed as beneficiaries.

Section §. 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 old

Section 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 (DCC), and

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

Section 7. Elementary Feeding School Program - The 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 NNC for nutritional and dietary specifics

Chapter II
Procurement
Section 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

Section 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 the
Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), Regional Field Office
(RFO) list of beneficiaries, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ National
Program for Municipal Fisherfolk 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.

Section 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, that small scale producers shall undergo Negotiated
Procurement Participation under the guidelines of the Government Procurement
Policy Board (GPPB) as specified under this act

Section 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 and/or any of its tasked agencies that
the individual or family is indeed included in the Registry of Small scale
farmers.

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 government. The goal is to achieve positive
outcomes such as poverty reduction, access to education, equitable

b)

°)


distribution and management of natural resources, climate change
adaptation/mitigation, disaster risk reduction, gender equality, disease
reduction, and job generation, among others.

Section 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) Training on Production, Harvesting, Procurement Process of this Act, and any

other topic the DA sees fit;

b) Subsidized Farm Equipment;

) Facilities for storage and harvesting

d) Capacity Building for Small-Scale Farmers;

e) Access to Crop Insurance; and

f) Access to credit/low interest rates

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

a) Training on Production, Harvesting, Procurement Process of this Act, and any

other topic the DA sees fit;

b) Subsidized Farm Equipment;

©) Facilities for storage and harvesting

4) Capacity Building for Small-Scale Farmers;

e) Access to Crop Insurance; and

f) Access to credit/low interest rates

Chapter Ill

Food Council
Section 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 of the President

Section 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

Section 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:

a) Ten (10) years of work experience in a Civil Society Organization involved in

Food Security;

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

c) Has good moral character; and

d) Has no pending cases

Section 17. Membership of the Council — The Council shall consist of the following
members:


a) Representative from the Department of Agriculture;

b) Representative from the Department of Agrarian Reform;

¢) Representative from the Department of Social Welfare and Development;

d) Representative from the Department of Interior and Local Government,

e) Representative from the Department of Education;

f) Representative from the Department of Health;

g) Representative from the National Nutritional Council;

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

i) Nutrition Research Institute;

}) Four (4) Representatives from Civil Society Organizations involved in Food
Security or Hunger alleviation; and

k) Four (4) Representatives from Small-Scale Producers group:

Section 18. Representatives from Civil Society Organizations involved in Food
Security or Hunger Alleviation - The Representatives for Civil Society Organizations
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;

d) Has good moral character; and

e) Has no pending cases.

Section 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 (6) years as a practicing Small-Scale Producer,

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

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

d) Has good moral character; and

e) Has no pending cases.

Section 20. Appropriations — The funds needed to implement this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 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

Section 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 full force and effect

Section. 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,