NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 337
ol the 
• V fi .1 \y
*22 JUL12 A10 37
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK FOR THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the subsistence 
incidence among Filipinos was recorded at 9.9% in the first semester of 2021. In 
tangible terms, this means that 10.94 million Filipinos had monthly incomes below 
the food threshold of P8,393.00, or roughly P270.00 a day. In addition, the most 
recent National Nutrition Survey found that 66.7%, or nearly 7 out of 10 families, 
experienced some form of food insecurity due to insufficient access to food.
The data above points to a grave and wide-ranging violation of a fundamental 
human right — the right to adequate food. Thus, it could be argued that widespread 
and chronic hunger is a human rights violation. It is an affront to the principle of 
human dignity.
That hunger is a violation of human rights has basis. Ihe right to adequate 
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 adequate 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 unemployment, sickness, disability, 
widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond 
his control."
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 right 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 
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 proposed measure seeks to mandate the State to reduce the incidence of 
hunger from the current level by 25%; in five years, it will be further reduced by 
25%; In seven and a half years, it will be further reduced by another 25%; and in 10 
years, zero hunger should be achieved.
In view of the foregoing, speedy approval of this measure Is eagerly sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE 
S. No. 337
i 
T 
^ * i I i ‘ L,
of l!|C . : IM.I "!?
*22 JUL 12 AlO 37
lU'CEiVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK FOR THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 'Right to Adequate
2 
Food Act of 2022".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 
guarantee the right to adequate food. Adequate food is not a matter of charity, but
5 
of legal entitlement. Hunger is inconsistent with human dignity and human rights,
6 
and must be eliminated. The aim of this Act is to provide a framework, within which
7 
hunger will be addressed In an organized way, and through which hunger may be
8 
ended.
9 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used In this Act, the following terms shall be
10 
defined as follows:
11 
a. Accessibility - refers to the capacity of individuals to produce or procure food,
12 
and the removal of barriers which prevent such access. It encompasses
13 
economic and physical accessibility:
14 
1. Economic accessibility implies that personal or household financial
15 
costs associated with the acquisition of food for an adequate diet
16 
should be at a level such that the attainment and satisfaction of other
17 
basic needs are not threatened or compromised.


1 
2. Physical accessibility implies that adequate food must be accessible to
2 
everyone, including physically vulnerable Individuals, such as infants
3 
and young children, elderly people, those belonging to the informal
4 
sector, the physically disabled, the terminally ill and persons with
5 
persistent medical problems, including the mentally ill.
6 
b. Adequacy - refers to the presence of food in a quantity and quality sufficient
7 
to satisfy the dietary needs of individuals, free from adverse substances, and
8 
acceptable within a given culture; and to the accessibility of such food in ways
9 
that are sustainable, and which do not interfere with the enjoyment of other
10 
human rights:
11 
1. Dietary needs imply that the diet as a whole contains a mix of nutrients
12 
for physical and mental growth, development and maintenance, and
13 
physical activity, that are in compliance with human physiological
14 
needs at all stages throughout the life cycle, and according to gender
15 
and occupation.
16 
2. Cultural or consumer acceptability implies the need also to take into
17 
account, as far as possible, perceived non nutrient-based values
18 
attached to food and food consumption and Informed consumer
19 
concerns regarding the nature of accessible food supplies.
20 
3. Freedom from adverse substances sets requirements for food safety
21 
and for a range of protective measures by both public and private
22 
means to prevent contamination of foodstuffs through adulteration, or
23 
through bad environmental hygiene, or inappropriate handling at
24 
different stages throughout the food chain. Care must also be taken to
25 
identify and avoid or destroy naturally occurring toxins.
26 
4. Sustainability refers to the availability, adequacy, and accessibility for
27 
both present and future generations, in a manner which does not
28 
jeopardize the environmental balance.
29 
c. Availability - refers to the possibilities either for feeding oneself directly from
30 
productive land or other natural resources, or for well-functioning distribution,
31 
processing and market systems that can move food from the site of
32 
production to where it is needed in accordance with demand;


1 
d. Council- refers to the Inter-Agency Council on the Right to Adequate Food
2 
created under this Act;
3 
e. Food - refers to nourishment that includes solid, liquid and semi-liquid
4 
nourishment, as well as drinking water;
5 
f. Food blockade - refers to a knowing and willful effort to cut off food supplies
6 
from a particular area by force either in part or in total;
7 
g. Hunger - refers to a spectrum of situations, from starvation, which is not
8 
having enough food of any sort to eat, to undernourishment, which is having
9 
enough food to eat, but of inadequate quality;
10 
h. Right to adequate food - refers to the right to have regular, permanent and
11 
unrestricted access, either directly or by means of financial purchases, to
12 
quantitatively and qualitatively adequate and sufficient food, corresponding to
13 
the cultural traditions of the people, to which he or she belongs, and which
14 
ensure a physical and mental, individual and collective, fulfilling and dignified
15 
life, free of fear; and
16 
i. Vulnerable groups - refer to those who are particularly disadvantaged. These
17 
include Indigenous peoples, ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities, persons
18 
with disabilities, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, refugees and internally
19 
displaced people, women and children;
20 
CHAPTER II
21 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
22 
Sec. 4. General Principles. - The principles upon which the provisions of this
23 
Act are founded, and which must be observed in the process of realizing the right to
24 
adequate food, are:
25 
a. Accountability - Public officials are answerable to their superiors, and to the
26 
people they serve, for their actions. Application of the principle of
27 
accountability in the context of the framework act requires clear assignment
28 
of responsibilities and functions to public authorities for implementation of the
29 
framework act and any subsequent measures to be taken. In addition, the
30 
expected results are spelled out clearly and appropriate procedures are
31 
established;


1 
b. Empowerment - People have the power, capacities, capabilities and access
2 
needed to change their own lives. Including the power to seek from the State
3 
remedies for violations of their human rights. This principle is the logical
4 
consequence of all the preceding principles. In the context of the framework
5 
act, the empowerment principle entails the inclusion of specific provisions on
6 
awareness-raising, capacity-building and right to adequate food education;
7 
c. Human dignity. - It is the absolute and inherent worth that persons have,
8 
simply because they are human, not by virtue of any social status or
9 
particular powers. The framework act recognizes in an unequivocal form that
10 
every person has a right to adequate food. To comply with this principle In
11 
the implementation of the framework act, the State, through Its public
12 
officials, treats persons equally and respects their human worth and dignity;
13 
d. Non-discrimination. - It is a level of protection of human rights objectively and
14 
reasonably the same for everybody, irrespective of sex, age, race, color,
15 
religion or any other ground. In addition to specifically prohibiting
16 
discrimination on any ground, this principle requires specific measures aimed
17 
at correcting de facto discrimination or eliminating conditions that cause or
18 
help to perpetuate discrimination, as well as measures promoting equality. In
19 
the context of this framework act, it means paying particular attention to
20 
those groups that cannot enjoy their rights as fully as others;
21 
e. Participation. - People are able to determine their own well-being and
22 
participate in the planning, design, monitoring and evaluation of decisions
23 
affecting them. Individuals are able to take part in the conduct of public
24 
affairs, including the adoption and implementation of State policies. Such
25 
participation is active, free and meaningful, whether it is exercised directly or
26 
through intermediary organizations representing specific interests. It is
27 
supported by capacity- building where necessary;
28 
f. Ruie of law. - It means that governmental authority is legitimately exercised
29 
only in accordance with written, publicly disclosed and accessible laws,
30 
adopted and enforced in conformity with established procedures. The
31 
principle is intended as a safeguard against arbitrary use of State authority
32 
and lawless acts of both organizations and individuals. Any implementing


1 
rules and regulations to be adopted for ensuring the implementation of the
2 
framework act will be clear, fair and accessible. The rule of law also means
3 
that no person or body can breach the law with impunity. There is access to
4 
justice including the right to an effective remedy for anyone whose rights are
5 
violated, as well as the guarantee of due process in ail legal proceedings; and
6 
g. Transparency. - It is open access by the public to timely and reliable
7 
information on the decisions and performance of public authorities. Holders of
8 
public office should be as open as possible about all their decisions and
9 
actions that may affect the free exercise of the right to adequate food.
10 
Applying the principle of transparency within the context of the framework act
11 
means that right-holders are provided with essential information about the
12 
decision-making process and those accountable and responsible for it. Right-
13 
holders also have the power to demand information on the processes that
14 
feed into the achievement of the particular entitlement, with an easy and low-
15 
cost corrective check to maladministration.
16 
CHAPTER III
17 
THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD
18 
Sec. 5. The Right to Adequate Food. -
19 
a. Every person has a right to be free from hunger. Every person suffering from
20 
hunger or undernourishment, or at risk of suffering from hunger or
21 
undernourishment, is entitled to a minimum amount of food according to his
22 
or her age, sex, health status and occupation;
23 
b. Every person has the right to live In conditions that enable her or him to:
24 
1. Feed herself or himself directly from productive land or other natural
25 
resources, or rely on well-functioning distribution, processing and
26 
market systems, or both;
27 
2. Be financially able, not only to acquire a sufficient quantity and quality
28 
of food, but also to satisfy her or his other basic needs;
29 
3. Be safe from the risk of losing access to food, as a consequence of
30 
sudden shocks, like an economic or climatic crisis, or cyclical events,
31 
such as seasonal food insecurity;


1 
4. Have the opportunity of good food utilization, through access to an
2 
adequate diet, clean water, sanitation and health care, to reach a state
3 
of nutritional well- being, where all physiological needs are met; and
4 
5. Access foods or diets that are the most appropriate under given
5 
circumstances, in terms of their nutritional value and cultural
6 
acceptability.
7 
c. Every girl and boy has a right to adequate food and nutrition adequate for
8 
her or his age, allowing her or him to grow and develop; and
9 
d. Every woman has a right to adequate food and adequate nutrition during
10 
pregnancy and lactation.
11 
No limitation on the right to adequate food may be allowed, unless it is
12 
provided by law, is necessary for the purpose of a compelling public interest, and is
13 
compatible with the nature of the right to adequate food.
14 
Sec. 6. Non-discrimination. - Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on
15 
the basis of race, color, sex, age, language, religion, political or other opinion,
16 
national or social origin, property, birth or other status, which has the effect or
17 
purpose of impairing or limiting the capacity of an individual to exercise his or her
18 
right to adequate food, is unlawful and will be sanctioned in accordance with the
19 
law.
20 
All forms of discrimination against women with regard to the guaranteed right
21 
to adequate food, including less favorable treatment of women for reasons of
22 
pregnancy and maternity, will be eliminated and prevented. The equality of
23 
opportunities between men and women will be promoted.
24 
The prohibition of discrimination will not be read to include government action
25 
to remedy past effects of discrimination against particular individuals or groups and,
26 
to promote equality of opportunities with regard to the right to adequate food.
27 
Sec. 7. Interpretation of the Right to Food. - The right to adequate food is
28 
realized when every Filipino has equal physical and economic access at all times to
29 
adequate food, or means for its procurement. The right to adequate food will
30 
therefore not be interpreted in a narrow or restrictive sense, which equates it with a
31 
minimum package of calories, proteins and other specific nutrients. The right to food


1 
shall be interpreted based on the elements of availability, accessibility, and adequacy
2 
as defined in this Act.
3 
Sec. 8. Interrelation with Other Rights. - The right to adequate food is
4 
interrelated with and indivisible from other rights recognized under the Constitution,
5 
and domestic and international law. No provision of this Act may be construed as a
6 
bar to the exercise of other rights.
7 
CHAPTER IV
8 
STATE OBLIGATIONS
9 
Sec. 9. The State as Duty Bearer. - The State, as the primary duty-bearer of
10 
this Act, has the duty to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate food. To
11 
this end:
12 
a. It is the duty of the State not to Interfere with or Impair the enjoyment of the
13 
right to adequate food. No public authority may deprive any person of food or
14 
means for its procurement, apply laws and regulations, or pursue a policy or
15 
practice, in a way that could result in preventing the enjoyment of or
16 
infringing the human right to adequate food, or repeal formally or suspend
17 
legislation necessary for the continued enjoyment of the right to adequate
18 
food;
19 
b. It is the duty of the State to provide guarantees against threats and risks
20 
stemming from private actors or societal forces that are controllable by State
21 
action. It is bound to take preventive measures necessary to protect persons
22 
whose capacity to access sufficient and adequate food or means for its
23 
procurement is endangered by the acts of others. It also ought to review the
24 
relevant administrative and legislative framework ensuring that activities
25 
within their competence undertaken by private actors do not infringe on the
26 
right to adequate food of others; and
27 
c. It Is the duty of the State to facilitate the enjoyment of the right to adequate
28 
food by adopting or pursuing appropriate policies and measures, in a manner
29 
that will foster and promote the human right to adequate food and to create
30 
and maintain conditions under which every person can freely and regularly
31 
enjoy her or his right to adequate food. It is equally the duty of the State to
32 
provide the right to adequate food, by adopting and putting in place


1 
measures to provide food, or means for its procurement, to persons who
2 
cannot take care of their own needs, due to reasons beyond their control, in
3 
particular for children whose parents die or disappear or otherwise no longer
4 
take care of them.
5 
Sec. 10. Duties of State Agencies and Instrumentalities. -These duties of the
6 
State shall extend to all state agencies, offices, and instrumentalities at all levels and
7 
government-owned and controlled corporations, subject to the Constitution and
8 
pertinent laws, policies, or administrative guidelines that define specific duties of
9 
state agencies and entities concerned.
10 
In particular, the following agencies shall the have the following duties and
11 
responsibilities, in addition to those existing under the Constitution and pertinent
12 
laws, policies, or administrative guidelines:
13 
a. The Department of Agriculture will have the primary duty to ensure food
14 
availability, stability and adequacy;
15 
b. The Department of Health will have the primary duty to ensure food quality
16 
and safety;
17 
c. The Department of Trade and Industry will have the primary duty to ensure
18 
physical and economic access to food; and
19 
d. The Department of Public Works and Highways will have the primary duty to
20 
ensure well-functioning distribution, processing and market systems.
21 
Sec. 11. Targets. - Towards the achievement of the objectives of this Act, the
22 
Government will ensure that in two and a half years, the incidence of hunger will be
23 
reduced, from the level current at the time of the passage of the framework act, by
24 
25 percent; in five years, it will be further reduced by 25 percent; in seven and a
25 
half years, it will be further reduced by 25 percent; and in 10 years, zero hunger will
26 
be achieved.
27 
The Government will also ensure that in 10 years, land devoted to food
28 
production will be increased to 50 percent of all prime agricultural land in every
29 
region, and that the following indicators will considerably and steadily increase over
30 
the same 10 years, together with other structural and process indicators, as may be
31 
determined in the implementing rules and regulations of this framework act:
32 
a. Percentage of development of ancestral lands;


1 
b. Percentage of rural population with access to productive resources;
2 
c. Share of budget spent on programs aiming at creating access to productive
3 
resources;
4 
d. Percentage of budget spent on agri-research, agri-extension, irrigation,
5 
training, technology, credits and rural development;
6 
e. Percentage of rural female-headed households, or rural women, with legal
7 
title to agriculture land;
8 
f. Percentage of public budget allocation for social transfer programs to those
9 
unable to feed themselves;
10 
g. Coverage of marginalized and disadvantaged population taking part in social
11 
transfer programs;
12 
h. Percentage of marginalized and disadvantaged population covered by a public
13 
nutrition supplement program;
14 
I. Percentage of population aware of available food and nutrition programs; and
15 
j. Coverage of school feeding programs.
16 
Periodic reviews will be undertaken to ensure compliance with set targets. In
17 
the implementation of this framework, priority will be given to identified areas with
18 
chronically malnourished Individuals. In measuring the incidence of hunger, the key
19 
primary data sources will Include:
20 
a. The National Nutrition Survey (NNS);
21 
b. The self-rated hunger indicator of the Social Weather Stations (SWS);
22 
c. Household surveys of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), namely the
23 
Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) and the Annual Poverty
24 
Indicators Survey (APIS); and
25 
d. Such other reputable Indicators and Indices as may be created or recognized
26 
domestically or internationally.
27 
There shall be authorized to be appropriated such amounts as necessary to
28 
carry out the provisions of this provision Act, to be included In the annual budget of
29 
the Food and Nutrition Institute and the Philippine Statistics Authority in the General
30 
Appropriations Act.
31 
Sec. 12. Impact Assessment - All proposed government actions, plans and
32 
projects. Including any development plan, will take into account the right to


1 
adequate food, and will undergo an objective impact assessment prior to its
2 
adoption and implementation. The steps for this objective impact assessment
3 
include:
4 
a. Identification of proposals subject to impact assessment, and their level of
5 
detail;
6 
b. Identification of the issues and impacts that are likely to be significant for the
7 
effective enjoyment of the right to adequate food;
8 
c. Determination of options for achieving the same objectives as those of the
9 
proposal;
10 
d. Identification and prediction of the likely social, economic, environmental, and
11 
other related effects of the proposal;
12 
e. Establishment of measures necessary to avoid or minimize predicted adverse
13 
impacts, and to incorporate these into the proposal Implementation plan;
14 
f. Assessment of significant outcomes including a simplified summary for public
15 
debate;
16 
g. Public consultation;
17 
h. Determination of whether the report identifies all relevant information on the
18 
possible impacts on the enjoyment of the right 
to adequate food, takes 
into
19 
consideration all potential social, economic, environmental and other effects
20 
of the proposal, and contains concerns and comments of the potentially
21 
affected population, and all the information necessary for decision-making;
22 
i. Approval or rejection of the proposal, and establishing the terms and
23 
conditions for its implementation; and
24 
j. Systematic determination of merit, worth and significance.
25 
Any strategic Intervention aimed at ensuring the enjoyment of the right to
26 
adequate food will similarly undergo an objective Impact assessment prior to its
27 
adoption and implementation.
28 
CHAPTER V
29 
THE INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD
30 
Sec. 13. Inter-Agency Council on the Right to Adequate Food. - To facilitate
31 
inter-agency cooperation to fulfill the objectives if this Act, there is hereby
10


1 
established an Inter-Agency Council on the Right to Adequate Food, which will be
2 
composed of the following agencies and representatives:
3 
a.) The Commission on Human Rights, as Chairperson;
4 
b.) Department of Agriculture;
5 
c.) Department of Agrarian Reform;
6 
d.) Department of Health;
7 
e.) Department of Trade and Industry;
8 
f.) Department of Public Works and Highways;
9 
g.) Department of Social Welfare and Development;
10 
h.) National Economic and Development Authority;
11 
i.) National Anti-Poverty Commission;
12 
j.) Two representatives of people's organizations; and
13 
k.) Two representatives of non- governmental organizations
14 
The council members who are representatives of people's organizations and
15 
non-governmental organizations will be chosen by the Council from a list of
16 
nominees provided by people's organizations and non- governmental organizations
17 
engaged in the promotion of the right to adequate food.
18 
The council members are tasked to formulate programs and projects to
19 
provide strategic interventions to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate
20 
food. The council will also serve as the monitoring body in regard to right to
21 
adequate food initiatives.
22 
The council members that are government agencies may designate their duly
23 
authorized representative, who will have a rank not lower than an assistant secretary
24 
or its equivalent. These members will attend council meetings, and will receive
25 
emoluments as may be determined by the council, in accordance with existing
26 
budget and accounting rules and regulations.
27 
Sec. 14. Powers and Functions of the Council. - The Council shall have the
28 
following powers and functions:
29 
a. Receive complaints of violations of the right to adequate food from Individuals
30 
and groups;
31 
b. Review and refer to the CHR complaints of violations of the right to adequate
32 
food;
11


1 
c. Adopt operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for contempt for
2 
their violation, in accordance with the Rules of Court;
3 
d. Establish a continuing program of research, education and information to
4 
enhance respect for the primacy of the right to adequate food;
5 
e. Recommend to Congress effective measures to promote the right to adequate
6 
food, to harmonize existing laws affecting the right to adequate food, to
7 
ensure their complementation, and the availability of remedies for violations
8 
and compensation, to victims of violations of the right to adequate food;
9 
f. Monitor the Philippine Government's compliance with its obligations in regard
10 
to the right to adequate food;
11 
g. Appoint officers and employees in accordance with law; and
12 
h. Perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.
13 
In exercising its powers and duties, the Council shall:
14 
a. Apply the human rights principles established by this Act;
15 
b. Work in close cooperation with representatives of civil society and take their
16 
views into consideration; and
17 
c. Use, to the fullest possible extent, the services, facilities and information,
18 
including statistical Information, of the relevant public and private bodies and
19 
organizations, to prevent duplication of effort and expenses.
20 
Sec. 15. Authority of the Chairperson. -The Chairperson of the Council may
21 
call upon other instrumentalities or entities of the government and nongovernment
22 
and civic organizations for assistance in terms of the use of their facilities and
23 
resources towards the achievement of the objectives of this Act and its
24 
corresponding rules and regulations.
25 
Sec. 16. Minimum Amount of Food. — Within one (1) year from the effectivity
26 
of this Act, Council shall issue guidelines on the minimum amount of food for
27 
persons who are suffering from hunger or undernourishment, or are at risk from
28 
suffering from hunger or undernourishment, but who cannot take care of their own
29 
needs, due to reasons beyond their control, including, but not limited, to children
30 
whose parents die or disappear, or otherwise no longer take care of them, elderly,
31 
and persons with disabilities. The guidelines shall include:
12


1 
1. The exact quantity of calories, proteins and micronutrients, to which the
2 
minimum amount of food will correspond, according to the age, sex, health
3 
status and occupation of a person;
4 
2. A simple and accessible application or certification procedure for the minimum
5 
amount of food entitlement with transparent, fair and non-discriminatory
6 
eligibility or certification criteria/ and
7 
3. A relief mechanism to ensure that such individuals are provided with their
8 
minimum food requirement.
9 
Specific support measures will be designed and adopted to-prevent or
10 
compensate for disadvantages that Identified vulnerable persons or groups suffer
11 
from, with regard to the enjoyment of their right to adequate food.
12 
Sec. 17. Emergencies. - The Council, in coordination with the National
13 
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, will have the duty to ensure that:
14 
a. Food emergencies cover both early warning and preparedness for a crisis, as
15 
well as organizing and managing food response in the case of a crisis, and
16 
comply with the right to adequate food and the relevant international
17 
standards;
18 
b. Emergency food responses are compatible with the right to adequate food
19 
and international standards regulating emergencies; and
20 
c. Requests for international assistance are initiated In case of necessity,
21 
alongside supervising and coordinating distribution of food response received.
22 
Sec. 18. Information. - All government agencies, under the direction of the
23 
Council, in coordination with the Philippine News Agency and Philippine Information
24 
Agency, have a duty to:
25 
a. Inform the population about the rights established in this framework act and
26 
about the implementing rules and regulations adopted upon its entry into
27 
force, as well as about any other measure taken for the purpose of facilitating
28 
and promoting the realization of the right to adequate food; and
29 
b. Use the most appropriate ways and methods of disseminating information,
30 
including by providing information in oral ways, and In local languages,
31 
notably in the most marginalized areas and among populations with a high
32 
rate of illiteracy.
13


1 
Sec. 19. Education and Awareness Raising. - The Council, in coordination with
2 
the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and Technical
3 
Education and Skills Development Authority, will have the duty to ensure that:
4 
a. The school curriculum includes material related to food and nutrition
5 
education, the right to adequate food, and human rights principles; and
6 
b. Adult education and training programs, when relevant, include material
7 
related to food and nutrition, the right to adequate food, and human rights
8 
principles.
9 
Sec. 20. International Cooperation. - The Council, in coordination with the
10 
Department of Foreign Affairs, will have the duty to:
11 
a. Ensure that activities undertaken in other countries. Including those by private
12 
actors, do not infringe on the enjoyment of the right to adequate food by
13 
people in the concerned countries; and
14 
b. Promote international cooperation and provide assistance to ensure the
15 
realization of the right to adequate food in other countries, if in a position to
16 
do so.
17 
Sec. 21. Monitoring System. - There will be an integrated monitoring system
18 
in which all government agencies at all levels, under the supervision of the Council
19 
will:
20 
a. Collect data related to food and nutrition security, using monitoring
21 
methodologies and processes consistent with human rights principles as
22 
established by this Act;
23 
b. Disaggregate collected data by age, sex, status and group;
24 
c. Monitor progress achieved in the realization of the right to adequate food;
25 
and
26 
d. Establish or identify an early warning mechanism.
27 
The Commission shall also establish fair, independent and accessible recourse
28 
procedures for complaints and appropriate remedies in case of a determined
29 
violation of the right to adequate food.
30 
Sec. 22. Representation and Participation of People's Organizations and Civil
31 
Society. - To guarantee public participation, the Council shall ensure the following:
14


1 
a. Free and meaningful participation, including freedom of information and
2 
freedom of association;
3 
b. Consultations on specific areas of implementation of this framework act; and
4 
c. National public hearings every two years, at which the Government is
5 
required to report on progress made with the implementation of this
6 
framework act, and the progressive realization of the right to adequate food
7 
in the country.
8 
CHAPTER VI
9 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
10 
Sec. 23. Rationalization of Policies. - All existing policies, laws, decrees,
11 
executive orders, memorandum orders, memorandum circulars, administrative
12 
orders, and ordinances will be rationalized in accordance with the right to adequate
13 
food, as provided for by this framework act. Laws affecting the realization of the
14 
right to adequate food will be interpreted in a way compatible with the right to
15 
adequate food and this framework act.
16 
The cabinet secretaries concerned and other executive authorities will report,
17 
at regular intervals, to the Council, on legislative and regulatory measures that have
18 
been elaborated and adopted, and the time frames within which they are envisaged
19 
to achieve their objectives.
20 
Sec. 24. Pena! Provisions. - The penalty of prision mayor \n\W be imposed on
21 
any public or private actor, who deliberately starves or denies access to food to any
22 
particular Individual or group, through the commission of any of the following acts:
23 
a. Food blockade;
24 
b. Refusal to implement a food-related program;
25 
c. Discrimination in implementing a food-related program;
26 
d. Negligence In implementing food-related programs;
27 
e. Obstructing access to food in time of calamity or war;
28 
f. Theft, corruption or black marketeering of food being given as humanitarian
29 
aid, in time of calamity or war;
30 
g. Distribution of expired, or unsafe food;
31 
h. Contamination of food or water sources, through mining activities, aerial
32 
spraying of plantations, or any other similar means; and
15


1 
i. Other analogous acts.
2 
The penalty is imposable without prejudice to any other criminal, civil or
3 
administrative liability under Philippine law.
4 
Sec. 25. Civil and Administrative Liabilities. - Any public officer or employee
5 
who directly or indirectly obstructs, defeats, violates or in any manner impedes or
6 
Impairs any of a person's rights guaranteed in this framework act, will be liable to
7 
this person for damages.
8 
Any violation of a provision of this framework act, whether committed by
9 
public or private actors, will similarly give rise to liability for damages.
10 
It is hereby declared a ministerial duty on the part of the Government to
11 
ensure the enjoyment of the rights guaranteed in this framework act. Appropriate
12 
cases may be filed before the courts to compel compliance with the provisions of this
13 
act. These cases will be without prejudice to liability for damages, as well as
14 
administrative liability that may be incurred.
15 
Sec. 26. Appropriations. - There shall be authorized to be appropriated such
16 
amounts as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Afterwards, such sums
17 
as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this act shall be included
18 
in the annual General Appropriations Act.
19 
There will be an allocation of specific and sufficient resources for the purposes
20 
of the implementation of the right to adequate food, in accordance with priorities set
21 
by The Commission. The allocation will be aimed at the progressive realization of the
22 
right to adequate food over the long term. Every person's right to be free from
23 
hunger can never be deviated from by temporary or permanent cutbacks.
24 
Sec. 27. Reportoriai Requirements. - The Council shall submit quarterly and
25 
annually reports to the Office of the President, the Senate of the Philippines, the
26 
House of Representatives, on the status Implementation of this Act and the
27 
achievements thereof.
28 
Sec. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Human
29 
Rights will issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of
30 
this act within thirty (30) days from its effectivity, in coordination with the
31 
Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Social
32 
Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Trade and
16


1 
Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways, National Economic and
2 
Development Authority, and National Anti-Poverty Commission, and people's
3 
organizations and human rights nongovernmental organizations actively involved in
4 
promoting the right to food and Its components as defined in this Act.
5 
Sec. 29. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid
6 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected
7 
shall remain valid and subsisting.
8 
Sec. 30. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
9 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
10 
to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or
11 
amended accordingly.
12 
Sec. 31. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
13 
Its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
n