Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

| 187€

Introduced by Representative CHING B. BERNOS

AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHT

TO ADEQUATE FOOD

} EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims to achieve “zero hunger.”
Officially, the goal aspires to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved
nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.” As a long-standing
international human right to which many countries are committed, a number
of countries have developed and implemented constitutional amendments,
national laws, strategies, and programs that aim at the fulfillment for all of

the right to food.

The right to adequate food can contribute to the transformational
change by creating synergies within the existing policy environment, in each
context, to enhance coherence across relevant sectors. In the 2020 State of
Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report, the Philippines recorded the

greatest number of food insecure people in Southeast Asia, with 59 million
|


Filipinos suffering from moderate to severe lack of consistent access to food.
In 2019,) Republic Act No. 11291 otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for
the Poor’, was signed into law, which recognizes “right to adequate food,
decent work, relevant and quality legislation and Adequate Housing and
Highest attainable standard of health”; but as of yet, the Philippines still has

no established national legal framework on food security and nutrition (FSN).

The purpose of the filing of this Bill is to create that national legal
framework to serve as guiding principles for future policies and programs
pertaining to food security and nutrition. As a bona fide member of the Food
and Agriculture Organization, this is the fulfillment of our obligations to
ensure that achieve food security for all and make sure that people have
regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. In view

of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.

REP. CHING B, BERNOS
ne District, Abra


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1876

HOUSE BILL NO-

INTRODUCED BY REP. CHING BERNOS

AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHT
TO ADEQUATE FOOD

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Con-
gress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Right to Adequate
Food Act,”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. Consistent with the principles enshrined in the
Constitution as well as the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, to
which the Philippines is a State Party, it is hereby declared the policy of the State
to guarantee the right to adequate food.

Adequate food is not a matter of charity, but a legal entitlement. Hunger
is inconsistent with human dignity and human rights, and must be eliminated.
Towards this end, the State shall provide for a framework to address and eliminate
hunger in an organized manner, and protect the right of the people to adequate
food.

Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act:

a. Dietary needs refer to a mix of nutrients for physical and mental growth,
development and maintenance, and physical activity, that follow human


physiological needs at all stages throughout the life cycle, and according to
gender and occupation;

|
b. Food refers to solid, liquid and semi-tiquid nourishment, as well as
drinking water, and when taken into the body serves to nourish, build and
repair tissues, supply energy, or regulate body processes;

c. | Food blockade refers to an act of cutting off food supplies from a particular
mn by force, either in part or totally;
|
d. | Food emergency refers to a situation in which access to food is
endangered, as that caused by natural events like drought, floods, storms,
earthquakes, or crop failures resulting from pests or diseases; or by human
agency such as internal or international armed conflict; or infectious disease
outbreaks or pandemics, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

and Coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19);

e. Food sovereignty refers to the right of people to healthy and culturally
appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable
methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems,
putting the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and
consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the
demands of markets and corporations;

f | unger refers to a condition in which people do not get enough food to
eat to provide the necessary nutrients for fully productive, active and healthy
living due to the unavailability and inaccessibility of food, which may be (a)
acute, such as during a major disaster when food supply channels are cut,
(b) chronic, when people are regularly not getting enough food to conduct an
active life for a long time, or (c) a condition of starvation, which is not having
enough food of any sort to eat, or (d) undernourishment, which is having
enough food to eat, but of inadequate quality; and

g. Vulnerable groups refer to those who are particularly disadvantaged
such as indigenous peoples, ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities,
persons with disabilities, persons living with Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), refugees and



internally displaced people, elderly, women, including pregnant and lactating
mothers and children, particularly those from zero to twenty-three (23)
months of age.

Sec. 4. Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food. Every person
has the right to have regular, permanent and unrestricted access, either directly or
by means of financial purchases, to quantitatively and qualitatively adequate,
sufficient} and safe food, corresponding to the cultural traditions of the people to
which a consumer belongs, and which ensure physical and mental, individual and
collective, fulfilling and dignified life, free of fear.

The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child, alone
or in community with others, have physical and economic access at all times to
adequate food, or means for its procurement. The right to adequate food must not be
interpreted in a narrow or restrictive sense, which equates it with a minimum
package of calories, proteins and other specific nutrients. The right to adequate food
must be realized progressively.

Sec. §. Core Content on the Right to Adequate Food. The core content of the
right to adequate food includes the concepts of food availability and accessibility,
which must be in a quantity and quality sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of
individuals, and in ways that are sustainable, and do not interfere with the enjoyment
of other human rights.

Sec. 6. Food Adequacy Standard. Central to the realization of the right to
adequate | food is the standard of adequacy in terms of quality, quantity and
cultural acceptability, sustainability of food availability and access.

‘The standard of adequacy includes a number of factors which must be considered
in determining whether particular foods or diets that are accessible can be considered
the most appropriate under given circumstances. Sustainability is intrinsically linked
to the concept of adequate food or food security, implying that food must be
accessible to both present and future generations.

The concept of adequacy to a large extent is determined by prevailing social,
economic, cultural, climatic, ecological and other conditions, while sustainability
incorporates long-term availability and accessibility.



Sec. }. Availability Standard. Food must be available for feeding oneself
directly from productive land or other natural resources, or for well-functioning
distribution, processing and market systems that can move food from the site of
production to where its needed in accordance with demand.

Sec. 8. Accessibility Standard. Food accessibility is both economic, which
refers to the acquisition pattern or entitlement through which people procure their
food, and physical, where food must be accessible to everyone.

Economic accessibility means that the personal or household financial cost
associated with the acquisition of food for an adequate diet should be at a level such
that the attainment and satisfaction of other basic needs are not threatened, or
compromised. Economic accessibility applies to any acquisition pattern or
entitlement through which people procure their food, and is a measure of the extent
to which jtis satisfactory for the enjoyment of the right to adequate food.

Physical accessibility means that adequate food must be accessible to
everyone, including physically vulnerable individuals, such as infants and young
children, elderly people, those belonging to the informal sector, the physically
disabled, the terminally ill and persons with persistent medical problems, including
the mentally ill. Victims of natural disasters, people living in disaster-prone areas
and other specially disadvantaged groups, and many indigenous peoples groups
whose access to their ancestral lands is threatened, need special attention and
priority consideration with respect to accessibility of food.

Socially vulnerable groups such as landless persons and other particularly
impoverished segments of the population may need attention through special
programs,

Sec. 9. Cultural or Consumer Acceptability. In providing food, there is a need
to consider, as far as possible, the perceived non- nutrient-based values attached to

food, and the consumer's concerns on the accessible food supplies.

Food must be free from adverse substances to ensure food safety. Measures must
be taken to maintain, adapt or strengthen dietary diversity and appropriate con-
sumption and feeding patterns, including optimal breast-feeding, to ensure that
changes in availability and access to food supply do not negatively affect dietary


composition and intake. Care must also be taken to identify and avoid or destroy
naturally occurring toxins.

Freedom from adverse substances implies that the requirements for food safety
and a range of protective measures are implemented to prevent contamination of
foodstuff through adulteration, bad environmental hygiene, or inappropriate han-
dling at different stages throughout the food chain.

|

Sec. 10. Conditions for the Exercise of the Right to Adequate Food. Every
person has the right to live in conditions that shall enable the person to:

a. Acquire food directly from productive land or other natural resources; or
rely on well-functioning food distribution, processing and market systems, or
both;

b. Financially acquire a sufficient quantity and quality of food and to satisfy

other basic needs;

c. Be safe from the risk of losing access to food, as a consequence of sudden
shocks, like an economic or climatic crisis, or one that is brought about by
internal displacements of people, or cyclical events, such as seasonal food in-
security;

d. Have the opportunity of good food utilization through access to adequate
diet, clean water, sanitation and health care and to reach a state of nutritional
well-being, where all physiological needs are met; and

€. Access food or diet that is the most appropriate under given circumstances,

in terms of their nutritional value and cultural acceptability.
}

Every infant, girl and boy, has a right to adequate food and to optimal health,
development and nutrition adequate for their age, growth and development.

Every woman has a right to adequate food and adequate nutrition during preg-
nancy and lactation.

Unless it is provided by law, or is necessary for the purpose of a compelling public
interest, and is compatible with the nature of the right to adequate food, there is no
limitation on the right to adequate food.

Sec. 11. Freedom from Hunger. Every person has a right to be free from hunger.
Every een suffering from hunger or under nutrition, or at risk of suffering from

si



hunger or ‘under nutrition is entitled to a minimum amount of food according to one's

age, sex, health status and occupation, as provided for in Section 19 of this Act.

Sec. 12. Principles. The provisions of this Act are founded on the rights-based
principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination, transparency, human
dignity, empowerment and rule of law, and are consistent with the progressive real-
ization of the right to adequate food.

Sec. 13. Non-discrimination. Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on
the basis of race, color, sex, age, language, religion, political or other opinion, na-
tional or social origin, property, birth or other status, which has the effect or purpose
of impairing or limiting the capacity of an individual to exercise the right to adequate
food, is unlawful and shall be sanctioned in accordance with law.

All forms of discrimination against women with regard to the right to adequate
food, inclisding less favorable treatment of women for reasons of pregnancy and ma-
ternity, shall be eliminated and prevented. The equality of opportunities between
men and women shall be promoted.

The prohibition of discrimination shall not include government action to remedy
past effects of discrimination against particular individuals or groups and to promote
equality of opportunities with regard to the right to adequate food.

Sec. 14. Governmental Obligations. The State, as the primary duty bearer, has
the duty to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate food and maintain food
sovereignty, in accordance with the conditions provided under Section 10 of this Act.

The State has the core obligation to take the necessary action to mitigate and
alleviate hunger, even in times of natural or other disasters. The right to be free from
hunger ensures a minimum daily nutritional intake and the bare survival 01 a per-

son. The right to adequate food goes beyond freedom from hunger.

@. Respect - the State has the obligation not to interfere with or impair the
enjoyment of the right to adequate food. No public authority may deprive any
person of food or means for its procurement, apply laws and regulations, or
pursue a policy or practice, in a way that may result in preventing the enjoy-
ment of or infringing the human right to adequate food, or repeal formally or
suspend legislation necessary for the continued enjoyment of the right to ad-
equate food.



b. Protect - the State has the duty to provide guarantees against threats and
risks stemming from private actors or societal forces that are controllable by
State action. It shall take preventive measures necessary to protect persons
whose capacities to access sufficient and adequate food or means for its pro-
curement are endangered by the acts of others. It also must review the relevant
administrative and legislative framework ensuring that activities within their
competence undertaken by private actors do not infringe on the right to ade-
quate food of others.

c. Fulfill- the State shall facilitate the enjoyment of the right to adequate food
by adopting or pursuing appropriate policies and measures that promote the
human right to adequate food and to create and maintain conditions under
Which every person can freely and regularly enjoy the right to adequate food.

Sec. 15. Targets. The State shall ensure that in two and a half years (2 1/2)
after the effectivity of this Act, the incidence of hunger is reduced by twenty-five
percent (25%), from the level recorded at the time of the passage of this Act: Provided,
That on years after the effectivity of this Act, such incidence of hunger will be
further reduced by twenty-five percent (25%): Provided, further, That in seven and a
half (7 in years, the incidence of hunger will be further reduced by twenty-five
percent (25%): Provided, finally, That in ten (10) years, there shall be zero hunger
incidence,

‘The State shall also ensure that within ten (10) years from the effectivity of this
Act, land devoted to food production is increased to fifty percent (50%) of all prime
agricultural land in every region, and, within the same period, the State shall ensure
that the following indicators are considerably and steadily increased:

a. Percentage development of ancestral lands;
b. Percentage of rural population with access to productive means;

c. Share of budget spent on programs aimed at creating access to productive

resources;
|

d. Percentage of budget spent on agri-research, agri-extension, irrigation,
training, technology, credits and rural development;

e. Percentage of rural female-headed households, or rural women, with legal
title to agriculture lands;



f. | Percentage of public budget allocation for social transfer programs to those
unable to feed themselves;

g. Coverage of marginalized and disadvantaged population taking part in so-
cial transfer programs

h. Percentage of marginalized and disadvantaged population covered by a

public nutrition supplement program;

i. Percentage of population aware of available food and nutrition programs;
an

—. of school feeding programs.

percentage rates used as indicators herein shall also be stipulated in the
rules and regulations issued to implement the provisions of this Act.

Periodic reviews shall be undertaken to ensure compliance with set targets.
In the implementation of this Act, priority shall be given to identify areas with chron-
ically malnourished population. In measuring the incidence of hunger, the key pri-
mary data sources will include national nutrition surveys, household surveys of the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), namely the Family Income and Expenditure
Survey and the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, and global hunger indices as
benchmarks.

Sec. 16. Institutional Responsibilities. The following agencies of the govern-
ment are required to fulfil their respective mandates in a manner that shall ensure

full implementation ofthe primary objectives ofthis Act
a. Department of Agriculture (DA)
b. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
c. Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
4. Department of Education (DepEd)
. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
f. Department of Health (DOH)
g. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
h. Department of Justice (DOJ)

i. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)


j. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
k. Department of Social Welfare and Develpoment (DSWD)

1. Department of of Science and Technology (DOST)

m, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

n. Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

©. (Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

p. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)

q. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

r. \National Food Authority (NFA)

s. \National Nutrition Council (NNC)

t. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

u, other agencies and instrumentalities of the government whose functions
are necessary for the efficient and effective implementation of the right to ad-

equate food.

In addition, the development of a fully integrated whole-of-government approach
to implement the national policy governing the right to adequate food and the use of
a human rights-based approach for the establishment and implementation of the
national policy must be institutionalized.

Sec. 17. Commission on the Right to Adequate Food. There is hereby created
a Commission on the Right to Adequate Food, hereinafter referred to as the Commis-
sion, which shall be attached to the Office of the President.

The Commission shall be the primary policy-making and coordinating body to
guarantee full exercise of the light to adequate food. It shall exercise monitoring and
oversight functions, apply human rights principles, conduct objective impact assess-
ment on alll government policies, programs and projects prior to adoption and imple-
mentation, work in close cooperation, and coordination with relevant government
agencies and in consultations with civil society organizations and the private sector,
and use all available resources for the efficient and effective implementation of this

Act.



It shall formulate a national food policy consistent with the policy formulated by
the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger. The Commission shall implement pro-
grams of action to eradicate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and
promote sustainable agriculture.

The Commission on the Right to Adequate Food shall have the fllowing powers:

a. Receive complaints of violations of the right to adequate food from indivi-
duals and groups;

b. Investigate, motu propio, or upon complaint by any party, all forms of
violations of the right to adequate food;

c. Adopt operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for con-
tempt individuals and groups for their violations in accordance with the
Rules of Court;

d. Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of the right to

\dequate food of all persons within the Philippines, as well as Philip-
pine citizens residing abroad, and provide for preventive measures and
legal aid services to the under-privileged whose right to adequate food
has been violated or needs protection;

e. Establish a continuing program of research, education and information
to enhance respect for the primacy of the right to adequate food;

f, Recommend to Congress effective measures to promote the right to
adequate food, to harmonize existing laws affecting the right to adequate
food, to ensure their complementation, and the availability of remedies
for violations and compensation to victims of violations of the right to
adequate food;Monitor the Government's compliance with its obligations
in regard to the right to adequate food;

& Monitor the Government's compliance with its obligations in regard to the
tight to adequate food;

h. Request the assistance of any department, bureau, office or agency
j
in the performance of its functions;

Appoint officers and employees in accordance with law; and

Perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.

10



|
Sec. 17. Composition. The Commission is composed of a chairperson and two
(2) members who must be natural-born Citizens; at least thirty-five (35) years of age,
at the time of their appointment; and must not have been candidates for any elective
position in the elections immediately preceding their appointment. At least one (1) of
them must be a member of the Philippine Bar.

‘The Chairperson and members of the Commission shall not, during their tenure,
hold any other office or employment. Neither shall they engage in the practice of any
profession, or in the active management or control of any business which, in any-
way, may affect the functions of their office, nor shall they be financially interested,
directly of indirectly, in any contract with, or in any franchise or privilege granted by
the government, any of its subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including

government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries.

‘The Chairperson and members of the Commission shaft be appointed by the Pres-
ident and shall not be reappointed to another term. From among the members, one
(1) shall Serve as the chairperson and shall hold office for ten (10) years, another
member shall be appointed as Commissioner for seven (7) years, and another shall
be appointed Commissioner and shall serve for five (5) years, without reappointment.
A membef who shall be appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only the unexpired
portion of the term of the predecessor. In no case shall any member be appointed or

designated in a temporary or acting capacity.

The Chairperson and members of the Commission shall receive the same salary,
benefits, privileges and emoluments of a cabinet secretary and undersecretary, re-
spectively.

Sec. 19. Standards on the Amount of Food. Within one (1) year from the effec-
tivity of this Act, the Commission shall, in consultations with the DSWD, DILG, NC
and the DOH, issue guidelines on the minimum amount of food for persons
who are suffering from hunger or undernourishment, or are at risk from suffering
from hunger or undernourishment, but who cannot take care of their own needs,
due to reasons beyond their control, including children whose parents die or disap-
pear, or otherwise no longer take care of them, elderly, and persons with disabilities.

‘The guidelines include:
]

1) The exact quantity of calories, proteins and micronutrients, to which the min-
imum amount of food will correspond, according to the age, sex, health status and

oocupaion of a person;

1


2) A simple and accessible application or certification procedure for the minimum.
amount of food entitlement with transparent, fair and non-discriminatory eligi-
bility * certification criteria; and

3) Relief mechanisms to ensure that such individuals are provided with their
minimum food requirement.

Specific support measures shall be designed and adopted to prevent or compen-
sate for disadvantages of the identified vulnerable persons or groups suffer from,
with regard to the enjoyment of their right to adequate food.

Sec. 20. Emergencies. The Commission in coordination with the National Dis-

aster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shall:

a. Provide food emergency responses which sufficiently cover both early warn-
ing responses and disaster preparedness in case of a crisis; and organize and
mi food responses efficiently and effectively;

b. Ensure that food supply responses are compatible with the right to ade-
quate food and international standards regulating emergencies; and

¢. [Initiate requests for international assistance in case of necessity, and su-
pervise arid coordinate properly the distribution of food to intended recipients.

Sec. 21. Information Dissemination. All government agencies, under the direc-
tion of the Commission in coordination with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) and
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall:

a. Inform the population about the rights established in this
Act and the implementing rules and regulations adopted upon its passage
into law and other measure taken for the purpose of facilitating and promoting
the realization of the right to adequate food;

b. Use the most appropriate ways and methods of disseminating information
by providing information through all media forms, and in local languages, no-
tably in the most marginalized areas and among populations with a high rate
of illiteracy.

Sec. 22. Education and Awareness Program. The Commission, in coordination
with the DepEd, CHED and TESDA. shall ensure that:

a. School curriculum includes material related to food and nutrition educa-
i
ton, the right to adequate food and human rights principles; and

2



b. Relevant adult education and training programs shall include materials
related to food and nutrition, the right to adequate food and human rights
principles.
Sec. 23. International Cooperation. The Commission, in coordination with the
CHR and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), shall:

a. Ensure that activities undertaken in other countries, including those by
private actors, do not infringe on the enjoyment of the right to adequate food
by people in the concerned countries. in coordination with DA, DTI, DOH and
NEDA and other relevant agencies;

b. Promote international cooperation and help ensure the realization of the
right to adequate food in other countries, if in a position to do so; and

¢. Ensure that international and other agreements which the Philippine Gov-
ernment centers into, consider the guarantee on the right to food.

Sec. 24. Monitoring and Evaluation System. There shall be an integrated mon-
itoring system that shall ensure that all government agencies at all levels, under the

supervision of the Commission on the Right to Adequate Food, shall:

a. Collect data _related to food and nutrition security, using moni-

toring methodologies and processes consistent with human rights principles;

b. Disaggregate collected data by age, sex, income, bracket, civil status and
ethnicity;

c. Monitor progress achieved in the realization of the right to adequate food;
and

d. Establish or identify an early warning mechanism for food supply short-
ages and emergencies

Sec. 25. Representation and Participation of People’s Organizations and
Civil Society. To guarantee public participation, the Commission shall ensure that:
]

a. An persons can freely and meaningfully participate in all forms of pu-
blic discourse, access information and exercise freedom of association, in
elation to the formulation and implementation of policies pertaining to the
right to adequate food;

b. Givi society and other stakeholders actively participate in the institu-
tions that oversee the realization of the right to adequate food, as well as.

13



in formulating capacity building mechanisms and special measures for
disadvantaged groups; and
c. National public hearings are conducted every two (2) years, at which
the government is required to report on the progress made with the im-
plementation of this Act, and the progressive realization of the right to
adequate food in the country.

Sec. 26. Penal Provisions. The penalty of imprisonment of six (6) months and
one (1) day to six (6) years, or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or
both, at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person who causes the
starvation or denial of the access to food of arty particular individual or group,
through the commission of any of the following facts:

a. Blockade

b. refusal to implement a food-related program;

c. discrimination in implementing a food-related program;

d. negligence in implementing food-related programs, resulting in death;

e. obstructing access to food in time of calamity or war,

f. theft, corruption or black marketeering of food being given as humanitar-
a aid, in times of calamity or war;

&. distribution of expired, or unsafe food at a school feeding program or other
feeding program, in times of calamity or war;

h. contamination of food or water sources, through mining activities, aerial
spraying of plantations, or any other similar means; and
i. other analogous acts.

Provided That, the penalty is imposable without prejudice to any other criminal,
civil or administrative liability under existing laws. If the act committed is food block-
ade during armed conflict, the penalty imposable shall be without prejudice to the
application of Republic Act No. 9851, or the “Philippine Act on Crimes against Inter-
national Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes against Humanity,” and
other relevant laws.

Sec. 27. Civil and Administrative Liabilities. The government shall ensure the
enjoyment of the rights guaranteed in this Act and perform the duties provided for

14


|
in this Act. Appropriate cases may be filed before the courts to compel compliance
with the provisions of this Act. These cases shall be without prejudice to liability for
damages and administrative liability that may be incurred.

If the violator is a public official or employee, in addition to the penalty of impris-
onment or fine or both. the accessory penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification
to hold public office shall be imposed.

Sec. 28. Appropriations. There shall be an allocation in the annual budget spe-
cifically for the purposes of the implementation of the right to adequate food, in ac-
cordance|with priorities set by the Commission on the Right to Adequate Food. The
allocation shall be aimed at the progressive realization of the right to adequate food
over the long term.

Sec. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the Commission shall, in coordination with
the CHR, DA, DAR, DSWD, DOH, DTI, DPWH, NEDA, NNC and NAPC, and people’s
organizations and human rights nongovernmnental organizations, promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 30. Rationalization of Policies. All existing policies, laws, decrees, execu-
tive orders, memorandum orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders,
and ordinances shall be rationalized and interpreted in a way that shall guarantee
the realization of the right to adequate food as provided for by this Act.

Cabinet secretaries and other executive authorities involved in the implementa-
tion of the right to adequate food shall report on a regular basis to the Commission
on the Right to Adequate Food on legislative and regulatory measures that have been
formulated and adopted, and the time frames within which they are envisaged to

achieve their objectives in order to achieve zero hunger.

Sec. 31. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 32. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum
orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances, or parts thereof,
which are inconsistent with the right to adequate food and the provisions of this Act,
are hereby demand repealed or modified accordingly.

15



Sec. ie Efectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

16