Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL No. 6744.

Introduced by Butil Farmers Partylist Rep. Cecilia Leonila V. Chavez

Explanatory Note

Food security has long been recognized by the state and various sectors as urgent
and this has always been high in the agenda of the executive and legislative
branches of the Philippine government.

There are at least twenty one (21) agencies that work on food and nutrition security.
Major government agencies have overlapping and fragmented mandates on food
programs. The management and regulation of resources for food security is among
the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform (DAR), Health (DOH), Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
and local government units (LGUs).

Food production and distribution functions are shared by the DA, DAR, National
Food Authority (NFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and LGUs. The
DSWD, Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and DA have mandates on road
infrastructure, depending on the programs involved. Among the programs are the
farm-to-market roads, PAMANA and bottom-up budgeting (Danguilan, 2015).

There are also mechanisms at the national and local levels such as the Agrarian
Reform Councils (RA 6657), Fisheries and Aquatic Reform Councils (RA 8550),
National Organic Agricultural Board (RA 10068), Local Development Councils,
Cooperatives Office (RA 7160/LGC), Agriculture and Fisheries Councils and Anti-
Poverty Councils.

Congress legislated land mark legislations purportedly to address food security.
Major laws related to food availability are: RA 8435 (Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Act RA 8435); RA 6657 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law
(CARP), as amended by RA 9700 otherwise known as CARPER); RA 8550 (Philippine
Fisheries Code of 1998) and RA 10068 (Organic Agriculture Act); and, RA 7160
(Local Government Code).

Major laws related to food accessibility are: RA 8289 (Magna Carta for Small
Enterprises); RA 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons); RA 8371 (Indigenous
Peoples Rights Act of 1997); RA 71 (Price Tag Law); RA 7581 (An Act Providing
Protection to Consumers by Stabilizing Prices) RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the
Philippines) RA 7900 (High Value Crops Development Act of 1995); and, RA 7607
(Magna Carta of Small Farmers).

Major Laws related to food adequacy and safety standards are: RA 10611 (Food
Safety Act); RA 3720 (An Act to Ensure the Safety and Purity of Foods, Drugs and

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Cosmetics Being Made Available to the Public by Creating the FDA); EO 292
(Revised Administrative Code of 1987, Sec 48 (4), Chapter 6, Title IV, designates
the National Meat Inspection Service to conduct actual ante mortem inspection);
and EO 137 (IRR on the devolution of the National Meat Inspection Commission to
the LGU)

Congress also passed a number of agriculture and food related laws in the last
three Congresses spanning nine years: RA 9496 (Agricultural Competitiveness
Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Extension Law); RA 10000 (Agri-Agra Credit Act of
2009); RA 10068 (Organic Agriculture Act of 2010); RA 10601(Agriculture and
Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Act); RA 10593 (Amending RA 8048 ‘The
Coconut Preservation Act of 1995’); RA 10611 (Food Safety Act); and, RA 10659,
(Sugarcane Industry Development Act), among others.

In so far as policies are concerned, Philippine laws are replete with provisions on
food security. There are, in fact, various mechanisms and programs that are
supposed to address food security. However, the state of poverty, hunger and food
insecurity that beset Philippine society indicates that the abundance of laws and
the establishment of mechanisms that should ensure food security were not
effective enough.

There is a food emergency in the Philippines brought about by the disjoint in
policies and our over-all view of our food and agriculture system. According to K.
von Grebmer, et al. (2016), the country is ranked 68 in the world in terms of
Global Hunger Index (GHI) when it registered a figure of 19.9 in 2016. This index
actually speaks of four component indicators, with their corresponding values for
the Philippines, as follows: the percentage of the population that is
undernourished (13.5%); the percentage of children under five years old who
suffer from wasting, i.e. low weight for height (7.9%), the percentage of children
under five years old who suffer from stunting, i.e. low height for age (30.3%), and
the percentage of children who die before the age of five, child mortality (2.8%).

In the past 15 years (1999-2014), the number of Filipino families who rated
themselves as hungry rose from 8.3% to 18.3% based on the Social Weather
Station’s (SWS) self-rated hunger survey. The SWS survey also revealed that
13.4% of families suffer from involuntary hunger in 2015. The victims of hunger
are mainly children and women.

The Philippines is also confronted with a case of double-burden of malnutrition.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO 2016) revealed
that 19% of the adult men and women in the country are overweight while 5% are
obese based on a study conducted in 2014. The same report pointed that
overweight and obesity have grave health risks to all age groups because obesity
increases the likelihood of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes,
hypertension, coronary heart disease, certain cancers, obstructive sleep apnea
and osteoarthritis.

Poverty, hunger and environmental degradation is aggravated by climate change.
As one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, the Philippines is ranked
third out of 171 countries on the World Risk Index and fourth out of 188
countries on the 2016 Global Climate Risk Index. Extreme disasters brought
about by climate change have become a major cause of collapse of food systems in
the country. It has caused, and continues to pose, enormous burden to the
national economy and the Filipino people especially upon farmers, fisherfolks,
workers, and their communities;

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The resultant health and nutrition condition in the country is just indicative of
the fact that many Filipinos do not have access to healthy
According to the National Nutrition Council (2017), 7 in 10
not meet their dietary energy requirements needed for the demands of productivity
in school, work or home and such lead to the disruption of the metabolic
processes, physiological functions and well-being of an individual.

Three related issues are important here: food access, food preference and food
quality. The Philippine Statistics Authority (2016) defines food accessibility as the
access by individuals to adequate resources for acquiring appropriate foods for a
nutritious diet. Additionally, it addresses whether the households or individuals
have enough resources to acquire appropriate quantity of quality foods, thus, it
encompasses their income, expenditure and buying capacity. Low-income families
cannot afford to buy expensive food and this puts them at the risk of
undernourishment. The food distribution system in the country is certainly not
doing the general buyers and consumers a favor. High food prices result from the
multiplicity of channels or intermediaries in the food distribution chain before
food reaches the consumers or end users from the producers who are the farmers,
fishermen and processors. It is seldom directly reaching the consumers or end-
users. In most cases, the consolidators/ middlemen; traders and food outlets are
intervening.

Another important issue is the quality of food available in the market. The
consumption of vegetables and fruits has continued to decline in the last 35 years
according to FNRI-DOST as cited by NNC (2017). We have seen the proliferation
of instant, junk and artificial food vended in most types of stores, supermarkets
and groceries. Considered as unsafe also are cereals, fruits and vegetables with
high amounts of pesticide residues. The residues can be traced during the crop
production stage whereby there is indiscriminate use of pesticides to control pests
and diseases. Rice culture is notorious for this specially with the use of high
yielding varieties that are actually susceptible to various pests and diseases.
Pesticide application in high value crops is likewise intense. On the other hand,
meat products can also be unsafe due to the antibiotics and other toxic chemicals
added either during the animal rearing stage or as part of postharvest processing
and food preparation.

Constantly, we are bombarded by promotional print and non-print materials
seeking to change our mindset into patronizing conventional food that are
unnatural, of which much are influenced by other countries. The government is
also occasionally seen promoting natural and nutritious food like Pinggang Pinoy
which promotes balanced diet among Filipino adults; campaign for eating sweet
potato and corn for energy; and Oh My Gulay! Sa FNRI to encourage backyard
vegetable gardening. But these counter efforts of government fail in comparison in
the arena of prominence and exposure with those already in vogue.

Agriculture has changed and is still changing rapidly in the country and all over
the world. Indeed, the advent of modern science and technology has changed the
agricultural landscape in the country. In the light of these, however, people in the
basic sector (farmers and fisherfolks) including processors are still beset with
many problems. Foremost is the reality that their technological needs are not fully
addressed by current technology generation and dissemination activities. Support
infrastructures and facilities for growth are also grossly inadequate. According to
the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
public investments for research and development in the Philippines for 2013 is at

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a low level of 0.14 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared to the
recommendation of the United Nations of one percent.

Another serious concern is the slant of current agricultural interventions of the
government, big agricultural companies and other interest groups towards
chemical farming that increases the dependency of farmers to big fertilizer,
pesticide and seed companies. The resultants are unsustainable production
practices and instability of production systems that seem to take their toll on the
physical and biological environments. Unsustainable agricultural practices can
be faulted for their negative impact on the ecosystem like eutrophication of rivers
and streams, soil erosion and landslide, greenhouse gas emission, nitrate leaching
and nutrient mining. These practices may also lead to loss of biodiversity, genetic
erosion, forest denudation, proliferation of pest and diseases and other pressures
on the biological environment. In the end, it is the people who suffer. Climate
change and the concomitant occurrences like flooding, drought, rainfall-induced
landslide are proof to this. Moreover, the food produced in the process are not
guaranteed to be healthy and safe while resorting to imported food products will
not solve the problem.

The Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the
right to health of the people and instil health consciousness among them. It is
likewise the policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
Moreover, the Philippines is a party to the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights which obligates parties to recognize the fundamental
right of every Filipino to be free from hunger and have adequate standard of living,
including that of food.

In keeping with the spirit of the Philippine Constitution and the country’s
obligation under international law, there is an urgent need for greater coherence,
convergence and synergy on the various programs of government on food which
are presently governed under different departments and agencies.

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

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL No. 6744.

Introduced by Butil Farmers Partylist Rep. Cecilia Leonila V. Chavez

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A FOOD POLICY FRAMEWORK, CREATING
NATIONAL AND LOCAL FOOD COUNCILS AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFORE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Sustainable and
Ecological Food System Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the state to promote a
sustainable and ecological food system to end hunger, achieve food security and
improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; ensure healthy lives and
promote well-being of all ages; ensure sustainable consumption and production
patterns; take urgent actions to combat climate change and its impacts by
regulating emissions; conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development; protect, restore and promote sustainable
use of terrestrial ecosystems, halt and reverse land degradation and halt
biodiversity loss;

SEC. 3. Creation of the National Food Council - The National Food Council,
herein referred to as the NFC, is hereby constituted as the overall coordinating body
in the formulation of policy guidelines, master plans and programs, as well as in
the implementation of projects that ensure the attainment of the national vision,
mission, goals, objectives and targets of a sustainable food system.

The National Food Council shall be guided by the following principles and goals:

a) Every human being has a fundamental, inalienable right to clean, safe,
nutritious/healthy/diverse, and culturally-appropriate food. As food is
most essential to life, the right to food is an extension of the basic human
right to life;

b) Ajust food system controlled by small holder producers and consumers not
by big food and agriculture corporations, recognizing that systems of food

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)

a)

e)

8)

h)

production, distribution and exchange are a preeminent responsibility of
the community and society. Assuring healthy, nutritious and diverse food
stock even in times of crises, securing resources for ecological food
production, equitable distribution of food and management must be
ensured and controlled by the local community, giving first priority to the
majority small food producers and preventing control and monopoly over
resources and production by industrial food and agriculture corporations;

National and local food policy, plans and programs that contribute to rural
development, fight poverty and hunger, premised on achieving food and
nutrition security, climate resilience while protecting our health and
environment through our local food producers, particularly farmers, fishers
and indigenous communities; such policies, plans and programs prioritizes
domestic ecological food production, which enables livelihoods in rural and
urban poor communities that are safe, healthy and economically viable,
over export-oriented industrial agriculture and fisheries that almost always
indicates loss of livelihood and consequently compels people to be exploited;

‘Smarter food policies, plans and programs that increases, not just yield but
food availability, improve livelihoods in poor regions of the country by
reducing the unsustainable use of what we grow, reducing food waste,
decreasing meat consumption and minimizing use of land for bioenergy,
premised on mobilizing urban consumers and the majority small food
producers; providing small producers, especially the marginalized sectors,
access to resources such as land, water, diverse and local seeds and
livestock with aim of conserving and protecting our soil, air, water, seeds
and breeds for a resilient food system;

National and local food policies, plans and programs must assure access to
food not only through sufficient income for everyone, but also by providing
mechanisms for free or subsidized _— distribution _—of
nutritious/healthy/diverse and culturally-appropriate food to those who
have insufficient income, as well as to those who suffer from natural and
man-made calamities; including mechanisms to advance community to
community farmer to farmer, fisher to fisher, LGU to LGU ecological food
and agriculture response in times of crises.

National and local food policies, plans and programs must be formulated
and created with the full participation of the Filipino people, especially
ensuring the participation of marginalized sectors of producers and
consumers. Such policies, plans and programs must recognize and promote
the initiative of the people to assert their rights to food.

Food is inextricably linked to nature and the environment. Conservation
and sustainable use of our diverse genetic resources, our soil, water and
environment, promoting the consumption of local and indigenous food and
cuisines should be integral components of a sustainable food system.

Ecological agriculture that works with nature and not against it provides

the framework for technology development and assessment of food
production and consumption, it runs counter to poisoning our health, soil,

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i)

k)

air, water and environment and the monopoly/control over Philippine
resources via patents on life and genetic modification of crops and livestock;

Food as fundamental human activities embody key elements of culture of a
community and society, and such role must be recognized, conserved and
promoted;

Clean, safe and nutritious/healthy/diverse food must be assured through
effective mechanisms and regulations, the formulation and implementation
of which promote and safeguard the interests of small producers and
consumers in processes that involve the full participation of the people;
these include participation in the assessment and approval of new food and
agriculture technologies;

As food sustains life and society, food must remain an element of peace and
cooperation among communities and among nations and societies. Turning
it into instruments of whatever form of domination and even war by one
community or society over another runs counter to norms of humankind in

relation to food;

SEC. 4. Composition of the NFC - The NFC shall be composed of the following:

President of the Republic of the Philippines Chairperson |
Cabinet Secretary Co-Chairperson and
Lead Convenor
Secretary of Agriculture Vice Chairperson
Secretary of Interior and Local Government Vice Chairperson
Secretary of Agrarian Reform Member
Secretary of Trade and Industry Member
Secretary of Budget and Management Member
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Member
Secretary of Health Member
Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Member
Administrator, National Food Authority Member
Lead Convenor, National Anti-Poverty Commission Member
Director, National Economic Development Authority Member
President, League of Governors Member
Governor, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Member

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President, League of Municipalities of the Philippines Member

President, League of Cities of the Philippines Member
President, League of Organic Agriculture Municipalities Member

and Cities (LOAMC)

‘Two (2) Representatives of Small Farmers’ Sector Member

‘Two (2) Representatives of Municipal Fisheries’ Sector Member

‘Two (2) Representatives of Labor Sector Member

‘Two (2) Representatives of Business Sector Member

‘Two (2) representatives of Women Sector Member

Two (2) Representatives of Indigenous Peoples Sector Member |
‘Two (2) Representatives of Urban Poor Sector Member

‘Two (2) Representatives of Persons with Disabilities Member
Sectors

Two (2) Representatives of Senior Citizens Sector Member

Two (2) Representatives of Youth Sector Member

Two (2) Representatives of Consumers Sector Member
Representatives of Agriculture /Fisheries/Forestry State Member

Universities /Colleges

Two (2) Representatives ofNon-Governmental Member
Organizations (NGOs) Providing Support and Services to
Basic Sectors

‘Two (2) Representatives of Social Movements Working on Member
Food
Chairperson of the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Member

Network on Food

The Sectoral Representatives and representatives of NGOs and social movements
shall be appointed by the President not later than ninety (90) days upon the
effectivity of this Order based on a shortlist of recommendees endorsed by a
Screening Committee composed of the Cabinet Secretary, the Agriculture Secretary,
Interior and Local Government Secretary and two (2) representatives from civil
society organizations (CSOs) duly recommended by them upon wide publication or
announcement in the entire country or in an assembly called for the purpose.

The Cabinet Secretary shall immediately appoint the CSO representatives, in
consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior and Local Government,

Page 8 of 18


and convene the Screening Committee which in turn shall submit its recommendees
to the President not later than (60) days from the effectivity of this Order. Provided,
that, Sectoral Representatives shall be chosen from national peoples organizations
(POs) which are community-based, mass membership organizations with chapters
in at least fifty (50) percent of the Regions. Provided further, that, such POs, NGOs
and social movements are either registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), or any Government Agency empowered by law or policy to
register and/or accredit POs and other similar aggrupations, or existing but not
registered, with a set of by-laws adopted through a membership assembly and duly
elected officials, pursuing a common goal and established to secure benefits for their
membership and articulate aims and objectives in thegeneral development and
environment discourse. Provided finally that, the POs, NGOs and Social Movements
have been operational and in existence for at least three consecutive years.

Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Order, CSOs with programs and
projects on food, shall convene a nationwide assembly and establish a CSO Network
on Food (CNF) with the facilitation and support of the NFC following the principle of
subsidiarity. The CNF and the NFC shall ensure the full participation of POs, NGOs,
and the general public through coordination and consultative mechanisms such as,
but not limited to, public hearings, meetings and joint projects.

The Chairperson of the CNF or its duly designated Representative shall sit as
Member of the NFC.

Two representatives from Congress, each duly appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the Senate President, may sit as ex-officio members
of the NFC.

SEC. 5. National Executive Committee - There shall be an Executive Committee
composed of the following: the Cabinet Secretary as Chairperson; the Secretaries of
Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, Health
and Environment; one representative each from the small farmers, fisherfolk and
indigenous peoples sectors; the Chairperson of the CNF and,the LOAMC
representative, as members. The NFC Executive Director shall sit as ex-officio
member.

The National Executive Committee shall meet at least every quarter or as may be
necessary to ensure the proper implementation of the NFC’s programs and activities.

SEC. 6. Duties and Functions of the NFC. - The NFC shall perform the following:

a. Review all existing laws, policies, plans, programs, and projects of the
government related to developing sustainable food systems;

b. Formulate and recommend national policies, plans, and programs that
advances food sovereignty base on the principles and goals stated in Section
1 hereof;

c. Design and adopt a comprehensive National Food Plan and Program
consistent with the principles and goals of a national food system, in
consultation with concerned NGAs, LGUs, non-government organizations
and local agriculture and fishery councils;

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d. Generate and mobilize resources from domestic and foreign sources for the
implementation of the National Food Program as well as rationalize the use
and the equitable distribution of such resources to LGUs;

e. Formulate the guidelines for the development and implementation of
provincial, city and municipal Food Action Plans in accordance with the
National Program and based on local realities;

f. Ensure the conduct of regular monitoring, evaluation, and validation of the
Programs;

g. Monitor and act on environmental and health impacts of unsustainable food
production and consumption to ensure public health and safety; these
include monitoring and acting on air, water and soil pollution from use of
chemical pesticides, fertilizers, growth regulators, plastic packaging, etc;
monitoring and acting on impacts of pollution from food and agriculture on
public health;

h. Monitor and ensure safeguards on the production, consumption, and
importation of genetically modified organisms/genetically engineered foods
and products for public and environmental health and safety.

i, Monitor and act on food loss, food waste, including plastic pollution,
especially in marine ecosystem from food packaging generated by the food
and agriculture industry.

j. Promote sustainable production and consumption of indigenous plants,
breeds, food and heritage cuisines in public agencies;

k. Promote best working practices, cooperation, knowledge and skills
exchange among different NGAs, LGUs, communities and civil society
groups;

1. Promote education, research, and extension on sustainable food production
and consumption;

m. Call on any government agency or instrumentality as it may deem necessary
in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities;

‘The NFC may hold its meetings at least twice a year or as may be necessary.

SEC. 7. - Research and Policy Development Advisory Committee - There shall
be a Research and Policy Development Advisory Committee composed of all
government research and policy development agencies which shall provide technical
support and recommend policy reforms and development programs to the NFC for
the effective implementation and realization of the principles and goals provided
herein.

SEC. 8. - Promotion of Sustainable and Ecological Food System. - The
Department of Education (DePED), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority shall promote

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sustainable and ecological food system through a continuing Information and
Education Program and Campaign.

SEC. 9. Organization of the Provincial/City/Municipal Food Councils - The NFC
shall coordinate the organization of a Food Council (FC) in every
province /city /municipality to ensure the attainment of the national vision, mission,
goals, objectives and targets of a sustainable food system. The NFC may call for
regional assemblies comprised of Provincial, Municipal and City FCs and CSO Food
Networks as it may deem necessary.

SEC. 10. Composition of the Provincial FCs—

The FCs for the Province shall be composed of the following:

Governor Chairperson
Provincial Agriculture Officer Vice Chairperson
Provincial Planning and Development Officer Vice-Chairperson
Provincial Cooperatives Officer Member
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Member
Provincial Health Officer Member
Provincial Budget Officer Member
President of the League of Cities /City Mayors Member
President of the League of Municipalities Member
President of the League of Barangays Member
Chairperson of the Sanggunian Committee on Agriculture Member
Regional Director of DILG Member
Regional Director of DA Member
Regional Director of DAR Member
Regional Director of DTI Member
Regional Director of DENR Member
Regional Director of DOH Member
Regional Director of DSWD Member
Regional Director of NEDA Member
Two (2) Representatives of Small Farmers’ Sector Member

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Two (2) Representatives of Municipal Fisheries’ Sector Member

Two (2) Representatives of Labor Sector Member
‘Two (2) Representatives of Business Sector Member
‘Two (2) representatives of Women Sector Member
‘Two (2) Representatives of Indigenous Peoples Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Urban Poor Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Persons with Disabilities Sectors Member
Two (2) Representatives of Senior Citizens Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Youth Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Consumers Sector Member
Representatives of Agriculture/Fisheries/Forestry State Member
Universities/Colleges

‘Two (2) Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations Member
(NGOs) Providing Support and Services to Basic Sectors

Two (2) Representatives of Social Movements Working on Member
Food

Chairperson of the Provincial Civil Society Organizations Member

(CSO) Network on Food

The Sectoral Representatives and representatives of NGOs and social movements
shall be appointed by the Governor not later than ninety (90) days from the effectivity
of this Order based on a shortlist of recommendees endorsed by a Screening
Committee composed of the Provincial Agricultural Officer, the Provincial Planning
and Development Officer and two (2) representatives from civil society organizations
(CSOs) duly recommended by them upon wide publication or announcement in the
entire province or in an assembly called for the purpose.

The Governor shall immediately appoint the CSO representatives and convene the
Screening Committee which in turn shall submit its recommendees not later than
(60) days from the effectivity of this Order. Provided, that, Sectoral Representatives
shall be chosen from peoples organizations (POs) which are community-based, mass
membership organizations. Provided further, that, such POs, NGOs and social
movements are either registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), or any Government Agency empowered by law or policy to register and/or
accredit POs and other similar aggrupations, or existing but not registered, with a
set of by-laws adopted through a membership assembly and duly elected officials,
pursuing a common goal and established to secure benefits for their membership
and articulate aims and objectives in the general development discourse. Provided
finally that, the POs, NGOs and Social Movements have been operational and in
existence for at least three consecutive years.

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Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Order, CSOs with programs and
projects on food, shall convene a province-wide assembly and establish a CSO
Network on Food (CNF) with the facilitation and support of the Provincial FC
following the principle of subsidiarity. The CNF and the Provincial FC shall ensure
the full participation of POs, NGOs, and the general public through coordination and
consultative mechanisms such as, but not limited to, public hearings, meetings and
joint projects.

‘The Chairperson of the CNF or its duly designated Representative shall sit as
Member of the Provincial FC.

Members of the House of Representatives may be included as ex-officio members of
the provincial FCs as well as other Regional and Provincial Directors of national
government agencies with provincial and regional offices /organizational structures.

SEC. 11. Composition of the Municipal/City FCs - The FCs for Municipalities,
Independent Component Cities and Highly Urbanized Cities shall be composed of
the following:

Municipal/City Mayor Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson

Municipal/City Agriculture Officer

Municipal/City Planning and Development Officer Vice-Chairperson
Municipal/City Cooperatives Officer Member
Municipal/City Environment and Natural Resources Member
Officer

Municipal/City Budget Officer Member
Municipal/City Health Officer Member
All Punong Barangay Member
Chairperson, Sanggunian Committee on Agriculture Member
‘Two (2) Representatives of Small Farmers’ Sector Member
‘Two (2) Representatives of Municipal Fisheries’ Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Labor Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Business Sector Member
Two (2) representatives of Women Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Indigenous Peoples Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Urban Poor Sector Member
Two (2) Representatives of Persons with Disabilities Sectors Member

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Two (2) Representatives of Senior Citizens Sector Member

Two (2) Representatives of Youth Sector Member
‘Two (2) Representatives of Consumers Sector Member
Representatives of Agriculture /Fisheries/Forestry State Member
Universities /Colleges

‘Two (2) Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations Member
(NGOs) Providing Support and Services to Basic Sectors

‘Two (2) Representatives of Social Movements Working on Member
Food

Chairperson of the Provincial Civil Society Organizations Member

(CSO) Network on Food

The Sectoral Representatives and representatives of NGOs and social movements
shall be appointed by the Municipal/City Mayor not later than ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Order based on a shortlist of recommendees endorsed by a
Screening Committee composed of the Provincial Agriculture Officer, the Provincial
Planning and Development Officer and two (2) representatives from civil society
organizations (CSOs) duly recommended by them upon wide publication or
announcement in the entire municipalty/city or in an assembly called for the
purpose.

The Municipal/City Mayor shall immediately appoint the CSO representatives and
convene the Screening Committee which in turn shall submit its recommendees not
later than (60) days from the effectivity of this Order. Provided, that, Sectoral
Representatives shall be chosen from peoples organizations (POs) which are
community-based, mass membership organizations. Provided further, that, such
POs, NGOs and social movements are either registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), or any Government Agency empowered by law or
policy to register and/or accredit POs and other similar aggrupation, or existing but
not registered, with a set of by-laws adopted through a membership assembly and
duly elected officials, pursuing a common goal and established to secure benefits for
their membership and articulate aims and objectives in the general development
discourse. Provided finally that, the POs, NGOs and Social Movements have been
operational and in existence for at least three consecutive years.

Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Order, CSOs with programs and
projects on food, shall convene a municipal/city-wide assembly and establish a CSO
Network on Food (CNF) with the facilitation and support of the Municipal/City FC
following the principle of subsidiarity. The CNF and the Municipal/City FC shall
ensure the full participation of POs, NGOs, and the general public through
coordination and consultative mechanisms such as, but not limited to, public
hearings, meetings and joint projects.

The Chairperson of the CNF or its duly designated Representative shall sit as
Member of the Municipal/City FC.

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The Municipal/City FCs may include, as ex-officio members, District
Representatives of the House of Representatives that has jurisdiction over the
municipality or city, as well as the Regional Directors of the DA, DAR, DILG, DENR,
DTI, DSWD, DOH, NEDA and other Regional and Provincial Directors of national
government agencies with provincial and regional offices /organizational structures.

SEC. 12. Provincial/Municipal/City Executive Committee - There shall be an
Executive Committee in the Food Councils in every Province, Municipality and City
composed of the following: the Governor or the Municipal City mayor, as the case
maybe, as Chairperson; the Provincial/Municipal/City Agriculture Officer,
Provincial/Municipal/City Planning and Development Officer and Health Officer;
one representative each from the small farmers, fisherfolk and indigenous peoples
sectors; and, the Chairperson of the CNF, as members. Upon the discretion of the
Governor and Municipal/City Mayor, the Provincial/Municipal/City Agriculture
Officer or the Provincial Planning and Development Officer shall be appointed as
head of the secretariat and such other local government employees as staff thereof.

The Provincial/Municipal/City Executive Committee shall meet at least every
quarter or as may be necessary to ensure the proper implementation of the NFC’s
programs and activities.

SEC. 13. Duties and Functions of the Provincial/City/Municipal FCs. -The
Provincial/City FC shall perform the following functions:

a. Oversee the successful implementation of the Provincial/ City-Municipal
Food Action Plan, in close coordination with concerned NGAs or their
respective field offices, component LGUs, NGOs/POs and private and
business sector within their jurisdiction;

b. Review, formulate and recommend to the NFC nationally significant and
locally relevant food policies pursuant to the goals and objectives of the
National Food Program;

c. Assist the Local Price Coordinating Council in the monitoring of prices and
quality regulation of major food commodities and in finding ways for
regulating the prices of prime commodities in the locality within its
jurisdiction;

d. Facilitate access to sustainable and resilient production and marketing
resources and opportunities for small and medium scale food social
enterprises through the initiation of agreements with government and private
financing institutions;

e. Ensure the availability and access to ecologically sound production inputs,
post-harvest facilities, markets for local and ecological produce appropriate
technology, and technical assistance to farmers and fisherfolks;

f. Ensure the availability of adequate and affordable food supply in the market

by promoting inter-LGU coordination market linkages and trading of basic
commodities;

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g. Monitor and act on environmental impacts to ensure health and safety from
food production to consumption;

h. Monitor and ensure safeguards on the production and importation of
genetically modified organisms/ genetically engineered foods and products for
public health and safety;

Monitor and act on food loss and food waste;

j. Promote eco-agriculture products and indigenous Philippine plants, breeds,
food and heritage cuisines in public agencies;

k. Promote best working practices, cooperation, knowledge and skills
exchange among different NGAs, LGUs, communities and civil society
groups;

m. Promote education, research, and extension on ecological-food production
and consumption;

n. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Provincial/Municipal/City
Food Plan;

0. Prepare and submit semi-annual reports of program implementation to the
NFC through the National Secretariat; and,

p. Perform other functions deemed necessary for the successful implementation
of the Food Program at the local level.

SEC. 14. Provincial/City/Municipal Food Action Plan - In accordance with the
guidelines promulgated by the NFC, every province/municipality/city, shall develop
and implement a Food Action Plan that advances food sovereignty base on the
principles and goals stated in Section 1 hereof and taking into account the actual
needs and available resources of the local government units in relation to food and
related programs and projects of national government agencies concerned in their
respective areas. All provincial/city/municipal Food Action Plans shall be
submitted to the NFC through the National Secretariat.

SEC. 15. Funding and Administrative Support for the Food Program of the
Province, Municipality and City - All Governors and Municipal/City Mayors,
through their respective Sangguniang Panlalawigan/Panlungsod, shall provide
specific budgetary appropriations under the local development plan of the
province/municipality/city for their Food Action Plan as approved by the LDCs.

As a counterpart support from the National Government, the Department of
Agriculture and all concerned national government agencies shall allocate funds
intended for the Food Program in accordance with the criteria and guidelines to be
formulated by the NFC.

SEC. 16 National Secretariat on Food Council. - The National Secretariat of the
Food Council is hereby organized to coordinate and implement such policies,
implementing rules and regulations, as may be promulgated by the NFC and its

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constituent Provincial/Municipal/City FCs. The National Secretariat shall likewise
perform the following functions:

a. Provide administrative support and technical assistance to the NFC and the
Provincial/Municipal/City FCs in collaboration with the National
Government Agencies concerned;

b. Coordinate with all the agencies and organizations/sectors involved in the
design of the National Food Security Plan and its implementation;

c. Develop and implement food campaigns,
d. Validate and review the LGU Food Action Plans;
. Monitor and evaluate program implementation;
f. Perform other functions that may be assigned by the NFC.

The Secretariat shall be attached to the Office of the President. An Executive
Director who is appointed by the President shall head the Secretariat. He shall be
assisted by a Deputy Executive Director and two administrative staff. To
supplement its human resources, the DA and DILG shall provide the necessary
technical staff to complement the National Secretariat.

Each DILG Regional Office shall serve as extension office of the Secretariat in the
region. It shall assist the National Secretariat in the exercise of its functions at the
local level in coordination with DA Regional Office, for the effective discharge of its
functions.

SECTION 17. Inter-Agency Coordination. - All concerned departments and their
attached agencies, LGUs, government-controlled and owned corporations (GOCCs),
and other instrumentalities of the government are hereby directed to cooperate and
give their full support to the NFC and the local FCs to ensure the effective
performance of their functions.

SECTION 18. Appropriation. - The amount of is hereby appropriated for
the first year of operations of the National Secretariat Thereafter, the necessary
amount for the effective implementation of this Act shall be included annually in
the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Department of
Agriculture (DA) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall
promulgate, after consultation with the concerned national government agencies,
and civil society organizations or non-government organizations (NGOs), the
implementing rules and regulations.

SEC. 25. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act is held

invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

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SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,

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