Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PAGKAIN PARA SA LAHAT PROGRAM, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sec. 12, Art. XIII of the 1987 Constitution states that “The State shall establish and 
maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate 
health, manpower development, and research, responsive to the country's health 
needs and problems.” 
In a report published on Saturday, October 29, SWS said 11.3% of Filipino families – 
or around 2.9 million – had nothing to eat at least once in the past three months, almost 
similar to the 11.6% hunger rate in June 2022.1 
It is the declared policy of the State to safeguard food security, end hunger, and 
promote the efficient use of the country's food resources. 
This proposed measure aims to empower local government units to establish their own 
food bank and/or soup kitchens to ensure that all Filipinos in every LGU have access 
to quality food. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
1 https://www.rappler.com/nation/hunger-rate-philippines-october-2022-social-weather-stations/ 
January 27, 2023
10:32 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PAGKAIN PARA SA LAHAT PROGRAM, 
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 “Pagkain 
Para sa Lahat Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of 
the State to safeguard food security, end hunger, and promote the efficient 
use of the country's food resources. Towards this end, the State shall 
adopt a system to promote, facilitate, and ensure that food surplus in 
establishments and food manufacturers are distributed to food banks and 
soup kitchens. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
a) Food banks refer to either public, private, non-profit, charitable or
other social mission-driven organizations that store food surplus and
distribute it to soup kitchens or other establishments or sell it to
consumers;
b) Food surplus refers to food inventory from food-related businesses
which have been left unsold during the ordinary course of business,
but still fit for consumption based on standards set by relevant laws,
rules, and regulations;
c) Food-related businesses refer to public and private businesses
involved in the manufacturing and processing of food products,
private businesses involved in the wholesaling and retailing of food
products, and private businesses involved in serving food products,
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which may include, but are not limited to, farms, factories, 
supermarkets, restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels; 
 
d) Logistics service providers refer to persons or entities engaged in 
the transport or delivery of goods; 
 
e) National Nutrition Council (Council) is the agency in-charge of 
developing an integrated national nutrition program and supervises, 
coordinates, and integrates the implementation of policies concerning 
nutrition. 
 
f) Soup Kitchens refer to either public, private, non-profit, charitable or 
other social mission-driven organizations that prepare and serve food 
given by food banks or other donors. 
 
SEC. 4. Establishment of Pagkain Para sa Lahat Program; Role 
of DSWD. – There shall be created a Pagkain Para sa Lahat Program 
which shall ensure that food surplus of all food-related businesses shall 
be channeled and distributed to food banks and soup kitchens established 
and/or accredited in accordance with this Act. 
 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall 
be the lead and coordinating agency for the proper implementation of the 
Program. In the performance of this function, the DSWD shall: 
 
a) Provide the framework, guidelines and standards for the collection, 
storage and distribution of food surplus donated to food banks and/or 
soup kitchens. 
 
b) Coordinate with local government units on the establishment of local 
food banks and/or soup kitchens; 
 
 
c) Promote linkages between food-related businesses, food banks, and 
soup kitchens to create a community-based food distribution system; 
and 
 
d) Coordinate with food-manufacturers, food banks, and other 
government agencies for the development of programs to bolster 
food distribution to beneficiaries. 
 
SEC. 5. Accreditation and Establishment of Food Banks and 
Soup Kitchens. – The DSWD shall establish a system of accreditation of 
private food banks and soup kitchens. The DSWD shall also ensure that 
at least one (1) food bank and soup kitchen is available in every city or 
municipality. In the absence thereof, the DSWD shall immediately inform 
and coordinate with the LGU concerned, for the establishment of a food 


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bank and soup kitchen in such locality. 
 
To ensure that all food surplus is consumed properly and in a timely 
fashion, a food bank shall, as far as practicable, have a partner a soup 
kitchen. All food banks and soup kitchens established and/or accredited 
in accordance with this Act shall offer their products to the public without 
any qualification. 
 
SEC. 6. Duties of Food-related Businesses. – To achieve the 
objectives of this Act, all food-related businesses shall: 
 
a) Determine the amount, type, and quantity of surplus food that can be 
delivered for consumption of beneficiaries of food banks and/or soup 
kitchens; 
 
b) Enter into contracts or agreements with food banks and soup 
kitchens to redistribute food surplus to beneficiaries of food banks 
and/or soup kitchens; 
 
c) Shoulder the costs, on its own or in partnership with a logistics service 
provider, of transporting food surplus from the business or storage 
site to the food bank or soup kitchen, or to their respective warehouse 
or distribution center; and 
 
d) Ensure that the food surplus is unadulterated, fit for human 
consumption, and in good condition upon arrival at the food bank's 
distribution center. For this purpose, prior to the delivery of the food 
surplus to food banks and soup kitchens, all food-related businesses42 
 
shall be tested by the National Nutrition Council to ensure that food 
surplus is fit for human consumption. 
 
SEC. 7. Duties of Food Banks. – To ensure that all food surplus 
given or donated to food banks benefit all citizens, all food banks shall: 
 
a) Submit periodic reports to the DSWD and the concerned LGU on the 
type of food donated, quantity donated, and other pertinent 
information on the distribution of food surplus in their establishments; 
 
b) Ensure that all food surplus given or donated to it is fit for human 
consumption, and shall require as proof a certification from the 
National Nutrition Council for this purpose; 
 
c) Establish linkages with soup kitchens; 
 
d) Store food surplus for distribution to beneficiaries and partner-soup 
kitchens; and 


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e) Ensure that their facilities follow best practices and procedures o 
food storage. 
 
SEC. 8. Duties of Soup Kitchens. – To ensure that all food 
ingredients used by soup kitchens are fit for human consumption, soup 
kitchens shall: 
 
a) Ensure that all food surplus given or donated to it is fit for human 
consumption, and shall require as proof a certification from the 
National Nutrition Council for this purpose; and 
 
b) Prepare food surplus to cooked or processed form fit for 
consumption, and such is free from contamination. 
 
SEC. 9. Duties of the Local Government Units. – LGUs are hereby 
required to: 
 
a) As far as practicable and in the absence of a food bank and/or soup 
kitchen located in their respective localities, establish local food 
banks and soup kitchens in their area; 
 
b) Utilize food banks and/or soup kitchens and, if possible, merge the 
latter with its community development programs; 
 
 
c) Provide technical, financial, and logistical support for food bank 
and/or soup kitchen operation within its territorial jurisdiction; and 
 
d) Regularly inspect the establishments of food-related businesses, 
food banks and soup kitchens to ensure that the same is compliant 
with all sanitation and other related laws. 
 
SEC. 10. Incentives for Participation. – All donations of surplus 
food or service donated by food-related businesses or logistics service 
providers, respectively, shall be exempt from donor’s tax. In addition, the 
full amount of such surplus food and service shall be claimed as a 
deduction from the gross income of a food-related business or logistics 
service provider, as the case may be. 
 
The DSWD, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local 
Government and the LGUs, shall also establish a system of incentives to 
participants of the Program to recognize their best practices with regard 
to achieving the objectives of this Act, such as training packages, 
technical guidance, awards and other similar incentives. 
 
SEC. 11. Liability. – The certification issued by the National Nutrition 


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Council shall serve as sufficient proof that the surplus food donated or 
distributed are fit for human consumption; Provided, That the distribution 
or preparation of food surplus, processed or otherwise, was done in good 
faith and in compliance with good food handling processes. 
 
SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, in coordination with the 
DILG, Department of Health (DOH), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) 
and other relevant government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 13. Annual Report. – The DSWD, in coordination with the 
DILG, DOH and other relevant agencies, shall submit an annual report on 
the implementation of this Act to the President of the Philippines and both 
Houses of Congress on or before April 30 of each year. 
 
SEC. 14. Appropriations. – The funds needed to implement the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
 
 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. – Should any provision herein be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect the validity 
of the other provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
regulations or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 17. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,