EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 
1242
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*19 
DEC 17 
P3 •'12
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND RECYCLING FOOD 
WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Food security exists when all people have physical and economic access to 
sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food 
preferences for an active and healthy lifestyle.1 In 2018 Global Food Security Index 
(GFSI), the Philippines ranked 70th among the 113 countries, with a score of 51.5 out 
of 100. The said score is higher than the previous year, which was at 79th place with 
a score of 47.3. Although the Philippines went up from last year's rank, there still 
remains the issue of food waste, among others, that calls for a collective action.
Reports show that not only does the Philippines fell short of the global average 
of food supply but also has a much higher food consumption than the global average. 
Further, in 2045, the population is expected to increase by more or less 30 million. 
With all these figures, there is an urgent call for a system to address the said issues.
Thus, this bill seeks to attain food security through maintenance of an effective 
food regulatory system, provision of an efficient utilization and management of food 
supply, and raising awareness about the consequences of food waste and loss.
1 http://www.fao.org/sustainable-development-goals/overview/fao-and-the-post-2015- 
development-agenda/food-security-and-the-right-to-food/en/


In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
. LAPIP


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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*19 OEC 17 P3:12
S E N A T E
S. No. 1242
RECii.
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF REDISTRIBUTING AND RECYCLING FOOD 
WASTE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ''Zero Food Waste Act'.
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is hereby declared a policy of the State to 
attain food security by establishing and maintaining an effective food regulatory 
system that shall address the needs of every Filipino, especially those in the 
marginalized sector or those living below the poverty threshold. Likewise, the State 
recognizes the need to adopt a system to address the problem of food waste.
Towards this end, the State shall adopt a regulatory system to promote, 
facilitate and ensure the reduction of food waste through redistribution and recycling.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. -  As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
a. Food insecure -  persons or groups of persons who have difficulty producing 
or purchasing food to avoid hunger.


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b. Edible food waste -  food discarded in the retail and consumption stages,
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determined to be fit for consumption based on standards set by the National
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Nutrition Council.
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c. Food waste reduction -  the decrease of food waste generation, the
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redistribution of food waste to the food insecure or the recycling of food as
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fertilizer or compost.
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d. Food-related business -  a public or private business involved in the
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manufacturing and processing of food products (i.e. food manufacturer), a
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private business involved in the wholesaling and retailing of food products
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(i.e. restaurants, cafeterias and hotels), whose classification shall be
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determined by the Department of Trade and Industry based on size, number
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of clientele and amount of food being sold, distributed or manufactured for
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public consumption.
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e. Food bank -  non-profit, charitable or other social 
mission-driven
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organization that distribute food to the food insecure.
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f. 
Inedible food w aste- food discarded in the retail and consumption stages,
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determined to be unfit for consumption based on standards set by the
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National Nutrition Council.
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g. Waste management and recycling enterprises-organizations that manage
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inedible food waste by converting these into fertilizers or compost.
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Section 4. Food-related Business Waste Reduction Strategy. -  Food-related
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businesses are hereby required to comply with the following, among others:
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a. Submit an initial report to the DENR, DSWD and LCD concerned that
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contains data on the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste
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in the past year, organized according to the manner of disposal, including
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donation, composting or discarding.
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b. Submit an initial report to the DENR, DSWD and LGU concerned that
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contains data on the amount (in tons) of its edible and inedible food waste
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in the immediate precedent year, organized according to the manner of
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disposal, including donation, composting or discarding.


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c. Enter into a contract with food banks to redistribute edible food waste to 
the food insecure.
d. Shoulder the costs of transporting edible food waste form business location 
to the food bank's warehouse or distribution center.
e. Ensure that edible food waste is unadulterated and in good condition upon 
arrival at the food bank's distribution center.
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Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises to 
recycle inedible food waste into fertilizer or compost.
g. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from collection areas 
to waste management sites.
h. Reach and maintain food waste levels at the target set by the DENR.
Section 5. National Zero Food Waste Scheme. - DSWD, as the coordinating 
agency between the food businesses and food banks, shall, among others:
a. Provide guidelines and standards for the collection, storage and distribution 
of edible food donated to food banks.
b. Ensure that the food businesses have entered into contracts with food banks 
and issue acceptance certificates to food businesses.
c. Promote linkages between food banks and LGUs to create a community- 
based food distribution system for the food insecure.
d. Create a Self-Sufficiency Program that will provide the food insecure with 
skills training on managing food banks and livelihood programs to avoid the 
dependence on donation solely.
Section 6. Household and Local Government Unit Waste Reduction Strategy. - 
LGUs are hereby required to, among others:
a. Submit an initial report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of 
inedible food waste that can be recycled as raw material for fertilizers or 
compost to DENR.


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b. Submit an initial report that contains data on the amount (in tons) of 
inedible food waste that has been recycled as raw material for fertilizers or 
compost to DENR.
c. Initiate waste segregation efforts per household through local campaigns.
d. Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises to 
recycle inedible food waste from households into fertilizer or compost.
e. Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste form collection areas 
to waste management sites.
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Maintain inedible food waste levels at the target set by DENR.
Section 7. National Zero Food Waste Campaign -  The National Nutrition Council 
(NCC), in close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the 
Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the 
Department of Health (DOH), other concerned agencies and Local Government Units 
(LGUs), is hereby tasked to undertake a National Zero Food Waste Campaign to raise 
awareness about the consequences of wasted food, the Zero Food Waste Act, and the 
food waste reduction efforts required of food-related business and households through 
the LGUs. The Campaign shall also promote the food waste reduction hierarchy, and 
recommend means of reducing individual food waste.
DepEd shall have the duty to ensure that the education curriculum includes 
materials on the current global and national food waste situation, on ways to reduce 
food waste, on national and local food waste prevention programs, and regarding the 
provisions of this Act. DTI shall encourage food-related business to purchase lower- 
price, non-standard size or shape produce to be used in their food products.
Section 8. Penal Provisions/Penalties. -  Any person, natural or juridical, who 
deliberately makes food waste unfit for consumption and who prevents the redirection 
of edible food waste to food banks or inedible food waste to waste management and 
recycling enterprises shall be imposed a fine ranging from Php 1,000,000.00 to 
P5,000,000.00.


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The fines may be increased on the basis of prevailing economic indicators such 
as, but not limited to, inflation rate and consumer price index.
Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Environment of Natural Resources 
(DENR), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the National Nutrition Council 
(NNC), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Health (DOH) and 
other relevant government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Section 10. Periodic Review. - The implementing agencies shall submit an 
annual report to Congress on the progress in the implementation of this Act.
Section 11. Appropriations. - The funds needed to implement this Act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Section 12. Separability Clause. - Should any part or provision of this Act be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not otherwise 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulation or any part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Section 14. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect upon publication in the Official 
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,