sevi:n h :e,m  II c on(;kess oi h ie  repi heic
Ol THE PHILIPPINES
Sccofh/ Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S B No,_] ( J 2 4
•1? 
MIV7Q ;r; -4,
Introduced by Senator Poe
AN ACT
PROMDINC; A FRAMEWORK FOR H IE RIC.HT lO ADEQUATE FOOD
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lixplanatory Note
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the subsistence incidence 
among Filipinos was recorded at 12.l°o. In tangible terms, this means that 12 million 
Filipinos-just below the population ol Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Pangasinan combined- 
had monthly incomes below the food threshold of Php 7,638, or roughly Php 254 a day. In 
addition, the 811' National Nutrition Survey found that 65.1 percent, or a whopping 6 out of 10 
families, e.xperienced some forni of food insecurity due to insufllcient access to food.
The data above points to a grave and wide-ranging violation of a fundamental human 
right — the right to adei]uate tood. While human rights violation” is not a popular phrase 
these days, it behooves us to call a spade a spade. Widespread and chronic hunger is a human 
rights violation. It is an affront to the principle of human dignity.
That hunger is a violation ol human rights has basis. 1 he right to adeijuate food is an 
internationally recognized and protected human right. It is enshrined in no less than the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 25 of the Declaration reads:
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adetjuate for the health and 
well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing 
and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in 
the event of unempkiyment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or 
other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” (emphasis 
supplied)
The right to adequate food is also restated in the International Covenant on Economic, 
Social and Cultural Rights. Article 11, Paragraph 2 of the Convention states that "The States 
Parties to the present Covenant... recogniz(e) the fundamental riuht of everyone to be free 
from hunger... ” (emphasis supplied)


This proposed measure thus seeks to establish a legal framework for the recognition 
and protection of the right to adequate food. The proposed framework act seeks to establish 
the parameters of the right to adequate food and its exercise, as well as the obligations of the 
State to respect, protect, and fulfill it. Towards this end, this propr)sed measure seeks to 
mandate the State to reduce the incidence of hunger from the level current at the time of the 
passage of the framework act by 25 percent; in five years, it will be further reduced by 25 
percent; in seven and a half years, it will be further reduced by another 250/o; and in 10 years, 
zero hunger will be achieved.1
In view of the foregoing, speedy approval of this measure is eagerly sought.
1 This representation was a co-author of the same measure in the 16,l, Congress


s e v i:n I KKN i ii ( ()N(;k i:ss o f i in: u k iu ih u c
O l T in : IM IIIJIT I.N F S
Secomi Rc^uhir Session
S E N A  I E
SB No 1 G24
Introduced by Seiintur I’oc * 1 2 3 4
'17 
NOV ?9 ''M :4i
AN ACT
PUOVimNC A FRAMEWOUK I OR THE RK;iH TO ADEQUATE FOOD
Be It enuclei/ by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the f'hilippines 
in Congress assembleJ:
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CIIAFIER 1
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CENERAE PROMSIONS
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SEC’ TION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be kiioun as the "Right to Aileqnaie I 'ooJ
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Act
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SECriON 2. Deelaration of Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
guarantee the right to adetpiate food. Adequate food is not a matter of charity, but of legal 
entitlement. Hunger is inconsistent with human dignity and human rights, and must be 
eliminated. The aim ot this Act is to pros'ide a Iramework, within which hunger will be 
addressed in an organized way, and through which hunger may be ended.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -  As used in this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows;
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a.) "Accessibility” refers to the capacity of individuals to produce or procure food, 
and the removal of barriers which prevent such access. It encompasses economic 
and physical accessibility;
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Economic accessibility implies that personal or household financial 
costs associated with the acquisition ol food for an adetiuate diet 
should be at a level such that the attainment and satisfaction of other 
basic needs are not threatened or compromised
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Physical accessibility implies that adequate food must be accessible to 
everyone, including physically vulnerable individuals, such as infants 
and young children, elderly people, those belonging to the informal


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sector, the physically disabled, the tenninally ill and persons with 
persistent medical problems, including the mentally ill.
b.) "Adequacy" refers to the presence of food in a ciuantily and quality sufllcient to 
satisfy the dietary needs of individuals, free from adverse substatiees, and 
acceptable within a given culture; and to the accessibility of such food in ways 
that are sustainable, and which do iK)t interfere with the enjoyment of other human 
rights:
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Dietary needs imply that the diet as a w hole contains a mix of nutrients 
tor physical and mental growth, development and maintenance, and 
physical activity, that are in compliance with human physiological 
needs at all stages throughout the life cycle, and according to gender 
and occupation.
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Cultural or consumer acceptability implies the need also to take into 
account, as far as possible, perceived non nutrient-based values 
attached to food and food consumption and informed consumer 
concerns regarding the nature of accessible food supplies.
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Freedom from adverse substances sets requirements for food .safety 
and for a range of protective measures by both public and private 
means to prevent contamination of foodstuffs through adulteration, or 
through bad environmental hygiene, or inappropriate handling at 
different stages throughout the food chain. Care must also be taken to 
identify and avoid or destroy naturally occurring toxins.
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Sustainability refers to the availability, adequacy, and accessibility for 
both present and future generations, in a manner which does not 
jeopardize the environmental balance.
c.) “AvciilahilHy" refers to the possibilities either for feeding oneself directly from 
productive land or other natural resources, or for well-functioning distribution, 
processing and market systems that can move food from the site of production to 
where it is needed in accordance with demand;
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d.) “C'oiincir refers to the Inter-Agency Council on the Right to Adequate Food 
created under this Act;
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e.) "I'ooil" refers to nourishment that includes solid, liquid and semi-liquid 
nourishment, as well as drinking water;
f) "I'ooJ hlockade" refers to a knowing and willful effort to cut off food supplies 
from a particular area by force either in part or in total..


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g.) "Hiini^er’’ refers to a spectrum of situations, from starvation, which is not having 
enough food of any sort to eat, to undei nourishment, which is having enough food 
to eat, but of inadequate quality;
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h.) "Ri^hl to adequate food" refers to the right to have regular, permanent and 
unrestricted access, either directly or by means of financial purchases, to 
quantitatively and qualitatively adequate and sufficient food, corresponding to the 
cultural traditions of the people, to which he or she belongs, and which ensure a 
physical and mental, individual and collective, fulfilling and dignified life, free of 
fear;
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i.) "Vulnerable f^rotips"- refer to those who are particularly disadvantaged. These 
include indigenous peoples, ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities, persons with 
disabilities, individuals living with lllV/AIDS, refugees and infernally displaced 
people, women and children;
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C; F.N IRA L I'RINC I PI ES
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SECTION 4. General Principles. -  The principles u|X)ii which the provisions of this 
Act are founded, and which must be observed in the process of realizing the right to adequate 
food, are;
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a. ) Accountability.- Public officials are answerable to their superiors, and to the
people they serve, for their actions. Application of the principle of accountability 
in the context of the framework act requires clear assignment of responsibilities 
and functions to public authorities for implementation of the framework act and 
any subsequent measures to be taken. In addition, the expected results are spelled 
out clearly and appropriate procedures are established;
b. ) Empowerment.- People have the power, capacities, capabilities and access needed
to change their own lives, including the power to seek from the State remedies for 
violations of their human rights. I'his principle is the logical consequence of all 
the preceding principles. In the context of the framewDrk act, the empowerment 
principle entails the inclusion of sjiecilic provisions on awareness-raising, 
capacity-building and right to adequate food education;
c. ) Human diynity.- It is the absolute and inherent worth that |-)ersons have, simply
because they are human, not by virtue of any social status or particular powers. 
The framework act recognizes in an unequivocal form that every person has a 
right to adequate food. To comply with this principle in the implementation of the 
framework act, the State, through its public officials, treats fversons equally and 
respects their human worth and dignity;


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d. ) Non-discrimination.- It is a level of protection ofliuman rights objectively and
reasonably the same for everybody, irrespective of sex, age, race, color, religion 
or any other ground In addition to specilically prohibiting discrimination on any 
ground, this principle requires specilic measures aimed at correcting de facto 
discrimination or eliminating conditions that cause or help to per|ietuate 
discrimination, as well as measures promoting equality. In the context of this 
framework act, it means paying particular attention to those groups that cannot 
enjoy their rights as fully as others;
e. ) I'ariicipation.- People are able to detennine their own well-being and participate
in the planning, design, monitoring and evaluation of decisions affecting them. 
Individuals are able to take part in the conduct of public affairs, including the 
adoption and implementation of State policies. Such participation is active, free 
and meaningful, whether it is exercised directly or through intermediary 
organizations representing specific interests. It is supported by capacity- building 
where necessarv;
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f ) Rule of law.- It means that governmental authority is legitimately exercised only 
in accordance with written, publicly disclosed and accessible laws, adopted and 
enforced in conformity with established jirocedures. fhe principle is intended as a 
safeguard against arbitrary use of State authority and lawless acts of both 
organizations and individuals. Any implementing rules and regulations to be 
adopted for ensuring the implementation of the framework act will be clear, fair 
and accessible. The rule of law also means that no person or body can breach the 
law with impunity. 1 here is access to justice including the right to an elTective 
remedy for anyone whose rights are violated, as well as the guarantee of due 
process in all legal proceedings; and
g.) Transparency.- It is open access by the public to timely and reliable information 
on the decisions and performance of public authorities. Holders of public office 
should be as open as possible about all their decisions and actions that may affect 
the free exercise of the right to adequate food. Applying the principle of 
transparency within the context of the frainewtnk act means that right-holders are 
provided with essential information about the decision-making process and those 
accountable and responsible for it. Right-holders also have the power to demand 
information on the processes that feed into the achievement of the particular 
entitlement, with an easy and low-cost corrective check to maladministration;
AKl lCU: 111
Tin: RICIIT TO ADKQHA ri: FOOD
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SFC' I IO!\ 5. The Riy/il to Adequate Tood.-


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a. ) Every person has a right to be free from hunger. Every person suffering from
hunger or undernourishment, or at risk of suffering from hunger or 
undernourishment, is entitled to a minimum amount of food according to his 
or her age, sex, health status and occupation;
b. ) Every person has the right to live in conditions that enable her or him to:
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I. feed herselt or himself directly from productive land or other natural 
resources, or rely on well-functioning distribution, processing and market 
systems, or both;
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2. Be llnancially able, not only to acquire a sufllcient quantity and quality of 
food, but also to satisfy her or his other basic needs;
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3. Be sate trom the risk of losing access to food, as a consequence of sudden 
shocks, like an economic or climatic crisis, or cyclical events, such as 
seasonal food insecurity;
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4. Have the opportunity of good food utilization, through access to an 
adequate diet, clean water, sanitation and health care, to reach a state of 
nutritional well- being, where all physiological needs are met; and
5. Access foods or diets that are the most appropriate under given 
circumstances, in terms of their nutritional value and cultural acceptability.
c. ) Every girl and boy has a right to adequate food and nutrition adequate for her
or his age. allowing her or him to grow and develop;
d. ) Every woman has a right to adequate food and adequate nutrition during
pregnancy and lactation.
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No limitation on the right to adequate food may be allowed, unless it is provided by
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law, is necessary for the purpose of a compelling public interest, and is compatible with the
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nature of the right to adequate food.
SKCI ION 6. Non-tliscriminalion. - Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on 
the basis of race, color, sex, age, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or 
social origin, property, birth or other status, which has the effect or purpose of impairing or 
limiting the capacity of an individual to exercise his or her right to adequate food, is unlawful 
and will be sanctioned in accordance with the law
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All forms of discrimination against women with regard to the guaranteed right to
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adequate f\)od, including less favorable treatment of women for reasons of pregnancy and


maternity, will be eliminated and prevented. The equality of opportunities between men and 
women will be promoted.
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The prohibition of discrimination will not be read to include government aeiion to
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remedy past elVects of discrimination against particular individuals or groups and, to promote
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equality of opportunities with regard to the right to adet|uate food
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SEC I lOM 7. Inicrprclalion of ilic 
lo /■'om/. - The right to adequate food is 
realized when every Filipino has equal physical and economic access at all times to adequate 
food, or means for its procurement. The right to adequate food will therefore not be 
interpreted in a narrow or restrictive sense, which equates it with a minimum package of 
calories, proteins and other specillc nutrients. 1 he right to food shall be interpreted based on 
the elements of availability, accessibility, and adequacy as defined in this Act.
SECTION 8, hucrrclatinn with Other Rights.- fhe right to adequate food is 
interrelated with and indivisible from other rights recognized under the Constitution, and 
domestic and international law. No provision of this Act may be construed as a bar to the
e.xercise of other rights.
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ARTICU: V 
STATEOm.IC;.\TIONS
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SEC, 1 ION 9. I'he State as I )iity Hearer. - The State, as the primary duty-bearer of this 
Act, has the duty to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate food. To this end:
a. ) It is the duty of the State not to interfere with or impair the enjoyment of the
right to adequate food. No public authority may deprive any person of food or 
means for its procurement, apply laws and regulations, or pursue a policy or 
practice, in a way that could result in preventing the enjoyment of or 
infringing the human right to adequate food, or repeal formally or susptend 
legislation necessary for the continued enjoyment of the right to adetiuate 
food;
b. ) it is the duty of the State to provide guarantees against threats and risks
stemming from private actors or societal forces that are controllable by State 
action. It is bound to take preventive measures necessary lo jirolect persons 
whose capacity to access sufficient and adeiiuate food or means for its 
procurement is endangered by the acts of others It also ought to review the 
relevant administrative and legislative framework ensuring that activities 
within their competence undertaken by private actors do not infringe on the 
right to adequate food of Others; iiiul
c. ) It is the duty of the Slate to facilitate the enjoyment of the right to adequate
food by adopting or pursuing appropriate policies and measures, in a manner


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that will foster and promote the human right to adequate food and to create 
and maintain conditions under which every person can freely and regularly 
enjoy her or his right to adequate food. It is equally the duty of the State to 
provide the right to adequate food, by adopting and putting in place measures 
to provide food, or means for its procurement, to persons who cannot take care 
of their own needs, due to reasons beyond their control, in particular for 
children whose parents die or disappear or otherwise no longer take care of 
them.
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SKCIION 10. Ditties of Stale Agencies ami Iiistrimienlahlies.- These duties of the
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State shall extend to all state agencies, oHlces, and instrumentalities at all levels and
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government-owned atid controlled corporations, subject to the Constitution and pertinent
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laws, policies, or administrative guidelines that define specific duties of state agencies and
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entities concerned
In particular, the following agencies shall the have the following duties and
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responsibilities, in addition to those e.xisting under the Constitution and pertinent laws,
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policies, or administrative guidelines:
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a.) The Department of Agriculture will have the primary duty to ensure food 
availability, stability and adequacy;
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b. ) The Department of Health will have the primary duty to ensure food quality and
safety;
c. ) The Department of Trade and Industry will have the primary duty to ensure
physical and economic access to food, am!
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d.) The Department ot Public Works and Highways will have the primary duty to 
ensure well-functioning distribution, processing and market systems.
SI C riO.N 11. Targets. -  Towards the achievement of the objectives of this Act, the 
Government will ensure that in two and a half years, the incidence of hunger will be reduced, 
from the level current at the time of the passage of the framework act, by 25 percent; in five 
years, it will be further reduced by 25 percent; in seven and a half years, it will be further 
reduced by 25 percent; and in 10 years, zero hunger will be achieved
The Government will also ensure that in 10 years, land devoted to food production 
will be increased to 50 percent of all prime agricultural land in every region, and that the 
following indicators will considerably and steadily increase over the same 10 years, together 
with other structural and process indicators, as may be determined in the implementing rules 
and regulations of this framework act:
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a.) Percentage of development of ancestral lands;


b.) Percentage of rural population with access to productive resources;
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c.) Share of budget spent on programs aiming at creating access to productive 
resources;
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d. ) Percentage of budget spent on agri-research, agri-extension, irrigation,
training, technology, credits and rural development;
e. ) Percentage of rural female-headed households, or rural women, with legal title
to agriculture land;
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f.) Percentage of public budget allocation for social transfer programs to those 
unable to feed themselves;
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g. ) Coverage of marginalized and disadvantaged population taking part in social
transfer programs;
h. ) Percentage of marginalized and disadvantaged population covered by a public
nutrition supplement program;
i. ) Percentage of population aware of available food and nutrition programs; ami
j. ) Coverage of school feeding programs.
Periodic reviews will be undertaken to ensure compliance with set targets. In the 
implementation of this framework act, priority will be given to identified areas with 
chronically malnourished individuals. In measuring the incidence of hunger, the key primary 
data sources will include:
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a. ) The National Nutrition Survey (NNS);
b. ) the self-rated hunger indicator of the Social Weather Stations (SWS);
c. ) household surveys of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), namely the
Family Income and expenditure Survey (FIFS) and the Annual Poverty 
Indicators Survey (APIS), ami
d. ) Such other reputable indicators and indices as may be created or recognized
domestically or internationally.
There shall be authorized to be appropriated such amounts as necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this provision Act, to be included in the annual budget of the Food and 
Nutrition Institute and the Philippine Statistics Authority in the General Appropriations Act.


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Si:CHON 12. Impact Assessment.- All proposed government actions, plans and 
projects, including any development plan, will take into account the right to adequate food, 
and will undergo an objective impact assessmcmt prior to its adoption and implementation. 
The steps tor this objective impact assessment include:
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a.) Identification of propo.sals subject to impact assessment, and their level of 
detail;
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b.) Identification of the issues and impacts that are likely to be significant for the 
elTective enjoyment of the right to adequate food;
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c.) Determination of options for achieving the same objectives as those of the 
proposal;
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d. ) Identification and prediction of the likely social, economic, environmental,
and other related effects of the proposal;
e. ) Lstablishment of measures necessary to avoid or minimize predicted adverse
impacts, and to incorporate these into the proposal implementation plan;
f ) Assessment of significant outcomes including a simplified summary for public 
debate
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g.) Public consultation;
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h. ) Determination of whether the report identifies all relevant infonnation on the
possible impacts on the enjoyment of the right to adequate food, takes into 
consideration all pxitential social, economic, environmental and other elTects 
of the proposal, and contains concerns and comments of the potentially 
affected pr)pulation, and all the information necessary for decision-making;
i. ) Approval or rejection of the proposal, and establishing the terms and
conditions for its implementation; and
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j.) Systematic detennination of merit, worth and significance.
Any strategic intervention aimed at ensuring the enjoyment of the right to adequate
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food will similarly undergo an objective impact assessment prior to its adoption and
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implementation.
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AIM 1C LK VII
T ilt IN I tK-ACitNCY COLNCIL ON H i t  UK^IH TO tOOl)


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SIX riON 13. Inter-Agency Covncil on the Rylit to Adeciuate Food. -  To facilitate
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inter-agency cooperation to fulfill the objectives if this Act, there is hereby established an
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Inter-Agency Council on the Right to Adequate Food, which will be composed of the
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follow ing agencies and representatives:
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a. ) The Commission on 1 luinan Rights, as Chairperson;
b. ) Department of Agriculture,
c. ) Department of Agrarian Reform;
d. ) Department of Health;
e. ) Department of Trade and Industry;
f ) Department of Public Works and Highways;
g. ) Department of Social Welfare and Development;
h. ) National Economic and Development Authority;
i. ) National Anti-Poverty Commission;
j. ) Two representatives of people’s organizations;
k. ) Two representatives of non- governmental organizations
The council members who are representatives of people’s organi/ations and non - 
governmental organi/ations will be chosen by the Council from a list ot nominees provided 
by people’s organi/ations and non- governmental organi/ations engaged in the promotion of 
the right to adequate food.
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The council members are tasked to fonnulate programs and projects to provide 
strategic interventions to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate food, fhe council 
will also serve as the monitoring body in regard to right to adequate food initiatives.
The council members that are government agencies may designate their duly 
authorized representative, who will have a rank not lower than an assistant secretary' or its 
equivalent. These members will attend council meetings, and will receive emoluments as 
may be determined by the council, in accordance with e.xisting budget and accounting rules 
and regulations
SKCIION 14. Rowers and h'unctions of the ( 'oiincil.- fhe Council shall have the 
following powers and functions:
a. ) Receive complaints of violations of the right to adequate food from
individuals and groups;
b. ) Review' and refer to the CHR complaints of violations of the right to adequate
food;
c. ) Adopt operational guidelines and rules ol procedure, and cite for contempt for
their violation, in accordance with the Rules of Court;
d. ) Establish a continuing program of research, education and information to
enhance respect for the primacy of the right to adequate food;
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e.) Recommend to Congress elTective measures to promote the right to adequate 
food, to harmonize existing laws affecting the right to adequate food, to ensure 
their complementation, and the availability of remedies for violations and 
compensation, to victims of violations of the right to adequate food; 
f ) Monitor the Philippine Government's compliance with its obligations in regard 
to the right to adequate food;
g. ) Appoint olllcers and employees in accordance with law; anJ
h. ) Perlorm such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.
In exercising its powers and duties, the Council shall:
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a. ) Apply the human rights principles established by this Act;
b. )Work in close coo[^eration with representatives of civil society and take their
views into consideration; ami
c. )Use, to the fullest possible extent, the services, facilities and information,
including statistical information, of the relevant public and private bodies and 
organizations, to prevent duplication of elTort and ex|x*nses.
SK(, I ION 15. Aiil/iorily of the ( hairpcrson.- The Chairperson of the Council may 
call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the governmenl and nongovernment and civic 
organizations for assistance in terms of the use of their facilities and resources towards the 
achievement ot the objectives of this Act and its corresponding rules and regulations.
Si:C riON 16. A hnununi Amount of l■oo^l. 
Within one ( I) year from the effectivity 
of this Act, Council shall issue guidelines on the minimum amount of food for persons who 
are suffering from hunger or undernourishment, or are at risk from sutTering from hunger or 
undernourishment, but who cannot take care of their own needs, due to reasons beyond their 
control, including, but not limited, to children whose parents die or disappear, or otherwise no 
longer take care of them, elderly, and persons with disabilities, fhe guidelines shall include:
1. ) The exact quantity of calories, proteins and micronutrients, to which the minimum
amount of food will correspond, according to the age, sex, health status and 
occupation of a person;
2. ) A simple and accessible application or certification procedure for the minimum
amount of food entitlement with transparent, fair and non-discrimiiuitory 
eligibility or ccilification criteria; ami
3. ) A relief mechanism to ensure that such individuals are provided with their
minimum food rec|uirement.
Specific support measures will be designed and adopted to-prevent or conqvensate for 
disadvantages that identified vulnerable persons or groups suffer from, with regard to the 
enjoyment of their right to adequate food.
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SI’C I ION 17. i'.merii^encics. - The Council, in coordination with the National 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, will have the duty to ensure that:
a. ) Food emergencies cover both early warning and preparedness for a crisis, as well
as organizing and managing food response in the case of a crisis, and comply with 
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the right to adequate food and the relevant international standards;
b. ) Emergency food responses are compatible with the right to adequate food and
international standards regulating emergencies; and
c. ) Requests for international assistance are initiated in case of necessity, alongside
supervising and coordinating distribution of food response received.
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.SEC TION 18. Injormatian. - All government agencies, under the direction of the
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Council, in coordination with the Philippine News Agency and Philippine Information
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Agency, have a duty to:
a. ) Inform the population about the rights established in this framework act and about
the implementing rules and regulations adopted upon its entry into force, as well 
as about any other measure taken for the purpose of facilitating and promoting the 
realization of the right to adequate food; (/in/
b. ) Use the most appropriate ways and methods of disseminating information,
including by providing information in oral ways, and in local languages, notably 
in the most marginalized areas and among populations with a high rate of 
illiteracy.
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.SEC I ION 19. I'.diivation and Awareness Raising. - The Council, in coordination
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with the Department of 1-ducation, Commission on Higher Education and 3'echnical
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Education and Skills Development Authority, will have the duty to ensure that:
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a. ) The school curriculum includes material related to food and nutrition education,
the right to adequate food, and human rights principles; and
b. ) Adult education and training programs, when relevant, include material related to
lood and nutrition, the right to adequate food, and human rights principles
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SEC'I'ION 20. Inlernalional Cooperalion. - The Council, in coordination with the
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Department of Foreign Affairs, will have the duty to:
a. ) Ensure that activities undertaken in other countries, including those by private
actors, do not infringe on the enjoyment of the right to adequate lood by j)eople m 
the concerned countries; and
b. ) Promote international cooperation and provide assistance to ensure the realization
of the right to adec|uate food in other countries, if in a position to do so.
SEC I ION 21. Man/iann^ System. - There will be an integrated monitoring system in 
which all govei nment agencies at all levels, under the supervision of the Council will:
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a. ) Collect data related to food and nutrition security, using monitoring
methodologies and processes consistent with human rights principles as 
established by this act;
b. ) Disaggregate collected data by age, sex, status and group;
c. ) Monitor progress achieved in the realization of the right to adequate food; and
d. ) Establish or identify an early warning mechanism.
1 he Commission shall also establish lair, independent and accessible recourse
procedures tor complaints and appropriate remedies in case of a determined violation
of the right to adequate food
SECTION 22. Rcpnwcntalion and Rarlicipalion of l>C()pk'\s Or^anizalions and ('ivil 
Sociciy - To guarantee public participation, the Council shall ensure the following;
a. ) Free and meaningful participation, including freedom of information and freedom
of association;
b. ) Consultations on specific areas of implementation of this framework act; and
c. ) National public hearings every two years, at which the Government is required to
report on progress made with the implementation of this framcwt)rk act, and the 
progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the country.
ARTICLE I \
MISC ELLANEOI S PROMSIONS
SEC I ION 23. Ralionalizaiinn of Ro/icics. - All e.xisting policies, laws, decrees, 
executive orders, meimirandiim orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, and 
ordinances will be rationalized in accordance with the right to adequate food, as provided for 
by this framework act l aws affecting the realization of the right to adequate food will be 
interpreted m a way compatible with the right to adequate food and this framework act.
1 he cabinet secretaries concerned and other executive authorities will report, at 
regular intervals, to the Council, on legislative and regulatory measures that have been 
elaborated and adopted, and the time frames within which they are envisaged to achieve their 
objectives.
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SECTION 24. Renal Rrovisions. - The penalty o\'pnsum mayor will be imposed on 
any public or private actor, who deliberately starves or denies access to food to any particular 
individual or group, through the commission of any of the following acts
a. ) Food blockade;
b. ) Refusal to implement a food-related program;
c. ) Discrimination in implementing a food-related program;
d. ) Negligence in implementing food-related programs;
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e. ) Obstructing access to food in time of calamity or war,
f. ) 1 heft, corruption or black marketeering ol lood being given as humanitarian
aid, in time of calamity or war;
g. ) Distribution of expired, or unsafe food;
h. ) Contamination of food or water sources, through mining activities, aerial
spraying of plantations, or any other similar means; and
i. ) Other analogous acts
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The penalty is imposable without prejudice to any other criminal, civil or 
administrative liability under Philippine law.
Si:CI ION 25. Civil and AdniinistnUn’L' l.uihiliiics. - Any public oflflcer or employee 
who directly or indirectly obstructs, defeats, violates or in any manner impedes or impairs 
any of a person’s rights guaranteed in this framework act, will be liable to this iK*rson for 
damages.
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Any violation of a provision of this framework act, whether committed by public or 
private actors, will similarly give rise to liability for damages
It is hereby declared a ministerial duty on the part of the Uovermnent to ensure the 
enjoyment of the rights guaranteed in this framework act. Appropriate cases may be filed 
before the courts to compel compliance with the provisions of this act. These cases will be
without prejudice to liability for damages, as well as administrative liability that may be 
incurred.
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SKC nON 26. Appropriaiions. - There shall be authorized to be appropriated such 
amounts as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Afterwards, such sums as may 
be necessary for the continued implementation of this act shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act.
There will be an allocation of specific and sufficient resources for the purposes of the 
implementation of the right to adequate food, in 
accoidance with |)iioiities set by The
Commission The allocation will be aimed at the progressive realization of the right to
adequate food over the long term. Hvery person's right to be free from hunger can never be 
deviated from by temporal^' or permanent cutbacks,
SK( I ION 27. Rcporturntl Rcipitrcmcni.s.- The Council shall submit quarterly and 
annually reports to the Office of the President, the Senate of the Philippines, the House of 
Representatives, on the status implementation of this Act and the achievements thereof
SIX I ION 28. Implcmciiimp^ Rules and Rc^nlaiions. - T he Commission on Human 
Rights will issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this act 
within thirty (30) days from its effectivity, in coordination with the 
Department of
Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Social 
Welfare and
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Development, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry. Department of 
Public Works and Highways, National Economic and Development Authority, and National 
Anti-Poverty Commission, and people’s organizations and human rights nongovernmental 
organizations actively involved in promoting the right to food and its components as dellned 
in this Act.
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SKC riON 29. Scpanthilily Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
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valid and subsisting.
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SEC I ION 30. Repealing ( 'lause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
e.xecutive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or 
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modi lied or amended 
accordingly.
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SEC riON 31. Rffectivity C 'lau.se. - This Act shall take elTect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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