Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING A FOOD RESCUE SYSTEM TO PREVENT FOOD WASTAGE 
AND PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In July of 2021, the Social Weather Stations said 3.4 million families in the 
Philippines have gone hungry “at least once” between April to June of 2021.1 The 
United Nations (UN) Environment Programme data set revealed that one-third or 
about 1.3 billion tons of food produced in the world “gets lost or wasted” while in the 
Philippines, 1,717 metric tons of good is wasted each day as per the Food and 
Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.2 In 
addition, the International Rice Research Institute stated that P23 million worth of 
rice is wasted daily which is enough to feed 4.3 million individuals.3  
Considering the foregoing, this proposed measure seeks to address the issue 
of food wastage in the country by introducing a system of diverting edible food from 
food 
establishments 
toward 
food 
banks, 
charities, 
and 
non-government 
organizations to fight food wastage. The system shall also ensure that inedible food 
waste are properly disposed and reduced. Incentives are also introduced in the 
proposed bill to encourage food establishments to comply with its mandate.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
1 The malady of food waste: Millions starve as trash bins fill with leftovers. Dela Pena, K. (2021). 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1505252/the-malady-of-food-waste-millions-starve-as-trash-bins-fill-with-
leftovers 
2 Ibid.  
3 Ibid.  
October 7, 2022
9:00 am
5466




Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING A FOOD RESCUE SYSTEM TO PREVENT FOOD WASTAGE 
AND PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY  
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Zero Food Waste 
Act.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the duty of the state to ensure that 
everyone has a right to adequate, safe, sufficient, and nutritious food and to freedom 
from hunger It shall also manage food staple consumption and work towards 
reducing food waste. To this end, the state shall adopt a program to promote zero 
hunger and lessen food waste through surplus food donations from restaurants and 
other food establishments. By engaging the food industry in a food rescue program, 
it will not only help in alleviating hunger in the country but will also help in preventing 
wastage of food in the industry that could have served a better purpose. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purpose of this Act, the following 
terms will mean: 
a) Food refers to an edible or potable substance (usually of animal or plant
origin), consisting of nourishing and nutritive components such as
carbohydrates, fats, proteins, essential mineral, and vitamins, which (when
ingested and assimilated through digestion) sustains life, generates energy
and provides growth, maintenance, and health of the body.
b) Surplus Food refers to wasted excess food that are considered wholesome
nutritious food. These are not spoiled food but either unsold or untouched
food in restaurants and other food establishments. These may also refer to
food products that are left over from breakfast, lunch or dinner service (e.g.
salads, sandwiches, muffins and cakes), an excess of products that are close
to their 'best-before' or "use-by date, ingredients and 36 finished products that
fall outside of a customer specification, slow-moving stock or deleted lines,
and products with damaged packaging.
5466


c) Food Security refers to the state of having reliable physical, social, and 
economic access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious food which meets dietary 
needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.  
 
d) Food Insecurity refers to the state of being without reliable physical, social, 
and economic access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious food which meets 
dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. 
 
e) Food Waste an overarching term defined as any potential source of food that 
has knowingly been discarded or destroyed. These include food discarded in 
factories, food not sold in shops or restaurants (or surplus food), kitchen 
scraps, and plate waste. 
 
f) Food Rescue also referred to as food recovery or food salvage, is gathering 
food that would otherwise go to waste from restaurants, caterers, bakeries, 
farmers, and grocers and distributing it to local food banks, food pantries, 
emergency food programs and other nonprofit organizations. 
 
g) Unavoidable Food Waste refer to food products lost during the consumption 
phase (e.g., banana peelings, fruit cores etc.). 
 
h) Food Establishment refers to an establishment where food or drinks are 
manufactured, processed, stored, sold or served. They must have a valid 
sanitary permit and health certificate issued by the local health authority. 
 
i) Food-Related Business refers to a business, enterprise, or activity on any 
nature (other than primary food production) that involves: the handling of food 
intended for sale, or the sale of food. 
 
j) Restaurant refers to a food and beverage service establishment with a health 
certificate issued by the local health authority. This certificate shall be issued 
only after the required physical and medical examinations are performed and 
immunizations are administered at prescribed intervals. 
 
k) Charity/Charities refers to an organization set up to provide help and raise 
money for those in need. 
 
l) Food Banks refer to non-profit organizations that collect and distribute food to 
hunger-relief charities. Food banks act as food storage and distribution depots 
for smaller front-line agencies and usually do not give out food directly to 
people struggling with hunger. 
 
m) Non-Profit Organization refers to an incorporated or unincorporated entity 
that: 
i. 
is operating for religious, charitable, or educational purposes; and 
ii. 
does not provide net earnings to or operate in any other manner that 
inures to the benefit of, any officer, employee, or shareholder of the 
entity. 
 


n) Donation refers to something which someone gives to a charity or other 
organization. 
 
Section 4. Zero Hunger, Food Rescue Program for Restaurants, Food 
Establishments, and other Food-related businesses – All duly-registered 
restaurants, food establishments, and other food-related businesses shall be subject 
to a Food Rescue Program wherein they shall donate surplus food to chosen food 
banks, charities, and non-profit organizations. The program shall adhere to strict 
safety standards to protect ultimate beneficiaries and help establishments determine 
and lessen the generation of food waste and surplus food to make production more 
efficient. 
 
It shall be under the purview of the Committee in Section 7 of this Act. 
 
Section 5. Establishment of an Inter-agency Committee for the Food 
Rescue Program. – An inter-agency committee led by the National Nutrition Council 
(Department of Health) and other representatives from the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Internal 
Revenue (BIR), the Department of Health (DOH), and Local Government Units 
(LGUs), as well as chosen representatives from the food industry will be established 
upon effectivity of this Act. They shall be in charge of implementing the provisions of 
this Act, including management and oversight of the Program, and other concerns 
that may arise. The committee shall have the following functions: 
a) Assess and evaluate production and surplus food generation audits of 
restaurants, food establishments, and other food-related businesses and 
determine the capacities and capabilities of these entities to donate or 
manage food waste and to lessen surplus food. 
b) Develop guidelines and health and safety standards for surplus food that 
are fit for donations and its collection, storage, and distribution of such. 
c) Provide criteria for accreditation and determine the credibility of institutions 
and foundations that can receive food donations from food establishments 
for distribution to ultimate beneficiaries; they shall accredit these food 
banks, charities, and other non-profit organizations that are deemed to be 
fit under the standards provided. 
d) Review donation reports in terms of quantity, quality, cost, and value of 
donated goods from establishments to their chosen beneficiaries (which 
are selected from the accredited institutions of the Committee). 
e) Determine possible tax deductions that may be applicable to food 
establishments in terms of their donations. 
f) Oversee and determine the appropriate system for donations to non-profit 
organizations and other beneficiaries. 
g) Develop and promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this 
Act. 
h) Manage any other matters that may arise under this Act. 
 
Section 6. Zero Food Wastage Campaign. – The NNC, DSWD, DTI, DENR, 
DOH, and concerned agencies and LGUs are tasked to undertake a Zero Food 
Wastage Campaign, and the food waste reduction efforts required of food-related 


businesses and households through LGUs. The campaign shall promote the food 
waste reduction hierarchy and recommend means of reducing individual food waste.  
 
Section 7. Duties of Food Establishments. – The establishments covered 
under this Act shall be required to:  
a) Submit an initial surplus food audit to the Committee under Section 5 of 
this Act to determine processes that generate surplus food.  
 
b) Donate a portion or all its surplus food either daily or weekly to 
beneficiaries accredited and approved by the Committee. A contract may 
be entered into by the establishments with food banks to redistribute 
edible food waste. Donated food should be subject to the standards of the 
National Nutrition Council which shall be developed through the 
Committee under Section 5 of this Act.  
 
In donations, the establishment shall report to the Committee of the 
contents and quality of donation to its chosen beneficiary. The prescribed 
format, details, and information needed in this report shall be duly stated in 
the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act. 
 
c) Shoulder the costs of transporting edible food waste to the food insecure 
and that the edible food waste is unadulterated and in good condition upon 
arrival at the food bank’s distribution center; 
 
d) Enter into a contract with waste management and recycling enterprises to 
recycle inedible food waste into fertilizer or compost; 
 
e) Shoulder the costs of transporting inedible food waste from collection 
areas to waste management sites; and 
 
f) Read and maintain food waste levels at the target set by the DENR. 
 
Section 8. Liabilities of Food Establishments. – The restaurant and other 
establishments under this Act shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability from the 
donated food and/or surplus food that has been subject to the standards of the 
National Nutrition Council before its donation in good faith to a non-profit 
organization, food bank, church, or charity. However, the former does not apply to 
the death and injury of ultimate recipients of such donations from an act or omission 
of persons or establishments, as applicable, constituting gross negligence and/or 
intentional misconduct. This shall be penalized as prescribed under Section 11 of 
this Act. 
 
Section 9. Duties of Food Banks, Charities, and other Non-Profit 
Organizations. – Food Banks, charities, foundations, and other non-profit 
organizations shall be accredited and proved fit under the standards provided by the 
Committee under Section 5 of this Act before these entities are able to receive 
donations from food establishments. Donated goods received by these entities shall 
not be distributed for sale. Such act shall be penalized as prescribed under Section 
11 of this Act 
 


Section 10. Liabilities of Food banks, Charities, and other Non-Profit 
Organizations. – The entities under this Act shall not be subject to civil or criminal 
liability from the donated food and/or surplus food that have been subject to the 
standards of the National Nutrition Council before its donation that have been 
received in good faith. However, death and injury of ultimate recipients of such 
donations from an act or omission of persons, establishments, or organizations, as 
applicable, constituting to gross negligence and/or intentional misconduct shall be 
penalized as prescribed under Section 11 of this Act. 
 
Section 11. Certification and Tax Deductions. – Restaurants, food 
establishments, and other food-related businesses who have complied with the 
provisions of the Food Rescue Program under this Act shall receive tax deductions 
and certification of compliance: 
a) Food Rescuer Certificate: Restaurants, food establishments, and other 
food-related businesses shall be recognized and certified as "Food 
Rescuers" under the Food Rescue Program. This distinction shall be 
awarded to deserving establishments that have donated food regularly, 
complied with the provisions of this Act, and lessened surplus food 
production and food waste within five (5) years of the Program's effectivity. 
This shall be determined by the Committee under Section 5 of this Act. 
b) Tax 
Deductions: 
The 
value 
of donations by 
restaurants, 
food 
establishments, and other food-related businesses made by food 
establishments may be claimed as tax deductions from the gross taxable 
income of said entities. This shall be determined by the Committee under 
Section 5 of this Act. 
 
Section 12. Penal Provisions. – The following are the imposed penalties of 
those in violation of the Act herewith: 
1. Gross negligence and/or intentional misconduct in handling, preparation, 
and/or distribution of donated goods of persons, establishments, or 
organizations, that resulted to death or injury of ultimate recipients. 
a. Injury: shall be penalized by imprisonment of one (1) year to five (5) 
years and a fine of not less than three hundred thousand pesos 
(PhP300,000.00) but not more than five hundred thousand pesos 
(Php500,000.00). 
b. Death: shall be penalized by imprisonment of five (5) years to 
fifteen (15) years and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand 
pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but not more than five million thousand 
pesos (PHP 5,000,000.00). 
2. Repacking and distributing for sale of food, and other goods intended for 
donation. Such act shall be penalized by imprisonment of one (1) year to 
three (3) years and a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos 
(PHP50,000.00) but not more than two hundred thousand pesos 
(PHP200,000.00). 
3. Deliberately contaminating or any other act towards making food waste 
unfit for consumption and donation Such act shall be penalized by 
imprisonment of one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than 
one hundred thousand pesos (PHP100,000.00) but not more than three 
hundred thousand pesos (PHP300,000.00). 


4. Redirecting or preventing such donations to reach intended recipients 
Such act shall be penalized by imprisonment of six (6) months to two (2) 
years and a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos (PHP50,000.00) but 
not more than one hundred thousand pesos (PHP100,000.00). 
 
Section 13. Appropriations. – The amounts necessary to implement this Act 
shall be included in Section 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations Within ninety 
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Committee, in consultation with 
appropriate government agencies and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
 
Section 14. Separability Clause. – If for any reason or reasons, any part of 
the provision of this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or 
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
 
Section 15. Repealing Clause. – AIl laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 16. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
days following its publication in the Official Gazette and at least two (2) newspapers 
of general circulation. 
 
Approved,