Zero Food Waste and Food Surplus Redistribution Act

Senate Office of the sartary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP 10 P6:30 SENATE RECEIVED B 1378 S. No.. Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOD WASTE REDUCTION THROUGH FOOD REDISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, PROMOTING ZERO FOOD WASTE, AND PROVIDING INCENTIVES AND MECHANISMS FOR DONATION OF EDIBLE SURPLUS FOOD EXPLANATORY NOTE According to the Department of Science and Technology- Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), an average of 1,717 metric tons of rice are wasted in the country every year.' Meanwhile, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in March 2025 found that 27.2% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger due to lack of food at least once in the past three months, with severe hunger affecting 6.2%.2 While the Department of Agriculture (DA) has initiated notable programs such as the Young Farmers Challenge Program and supported small-scale food banks and community kitchens, food rescue efforts remain limited in scale and largely dependent on voluntary actions of civil society and the private sector. The absence of formal legal framework for edible food redistribution hinders more coordinated and sustainable interventions. ' Food for thought: Public urged to reduce food waste during festive season: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1877371/food-for-nought-public-urged-to-reduce-food-waste-during-festive- season?utm source-chatgpt.com 2 Hunger up to 27.2%, highest since pandemic- SWS https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/941035/hunger-survey-sws-march- 2025/story/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

This bill seeks to address the gap between the twin challenges that our country face - food insecurity and food wastage. This bill aims to institutionalize a nationwide food recovery and redistribution system, provide tax incentives, support LGUs and NGO coordination for surplus food redistribution, establish a Local Zero to Food Waste Councils in LGUs to coordinate rescue operations, monitor gaps and align with national targets. Towards this end, this bill will help advance the goals of National Food Policy, particularly in ensuring zero hunger and minimizing food loss along the supply chain. This ensures that food that would have been wasted is instead used to nourish communities in need. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. •* JV EJEREITO

Sentate Office of the sucretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) 25 SEP 10 P6:30 SENATE RECEIVED BY. 1378 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOD WASTE REDUCTION THROUGH FOOD REDISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, PROMOTING ZERO FOOD WASTE, AND PROVIDING INCENTIVES AND MECHANISMS FOR DONATION OF EDIBLE SURPLUS FOOD Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assemble:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Zero Food Waste and

Food Surplus Redistribution Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles and State Policies. - The State recognizes that

5 each person has a right to an adequate standard of living, including to sufficient food. 6 It is hereby declared a policy of the State to food security, end hunger, and promote 7 the efficient use of the country's food resources. Towards this end, it is the policy of 8 the State to reduce food waste, alleviate hunger, and promote environmental o sustainability by strengthening systems that facilitate the safe recovery and redistribution of edible surplus food from food related businesses to food insecure communities.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a. Edible Surplus Food refers to safe and nutritious food that is unsold, unserved, or unused but still fit for human consumption based on standards set by the National Nutrition Council. b. Food Donor refers to individuals, business, or institutions such as restaurants, groceries, food processors, and manufacturers that voluntarily donate surplus food.

C. Food Banks refers to non-profit, charitable or other social mission-driven organizations that distribute food to the food insecure. d. Redistribution Partners refers to food banks, feeding programs, shelters, accredited NGOs, and LGUs authorized to receive and distribute donated food. e. Zero Food Waste refers to the principle of diverting all edible food disposal by rescuing, recovering, and redirecting it to people in need.

Sec. 4. Strengthening Food Redistribution Mechanisms. - The Department of

9 Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Department of 10 Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and 11 Natural Resources (DENR), and Local Government units (LGUs), shall lead the implementation of a national food redistribution system. The program shall facilitate matching food donors with redistribution partners, development of cold chain logistics and food rescue hubs, and rapid donation channels during disasters and emergencies.

Sec. 5. Incentives to Food Donors. - Food donors shall be entitled to:

a. Tax incentives such as deductible donations as allowable under the National Internal Revenue Code; b. Public recognition or certification as "Zero Food Waste Champion" enterprises; c. Technical support for food safety handling and donation logistics.

Sec. 6. National Zero Food Waste Campaign. The National Nutrition Council

(NNC) in close coordination with the DENR, DSWD, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DOH), and other concerned agencies and LGUs, is hereby tasked to undertake a National Zero Food Waste Campaign, and the food waste reduction efforts required of food-related businesses and households through LGUs. The campaign shall also promote the food waste reduction hierarchy, and recommend means of reducing individual food waste. The DepEd shall have the duty to ensure that the education curriculum includes materials on the current global and national food waste situation, on ways to reduce food waste, on national and local food waste prevention programs, and regarding the

1 provisions of this Act. The Dil shall encourage food-related business to purchase 2 lower price, non-standard size or shape produce to be used in their food products.

Sec. 7. Local Zero Food Waste Councils. - LGUs shall establish Zero Food Waste

4 Councils, composed of representatives from the local nutrition office, agriculture 5 office, health office, private food businesses, and accredited NGOs, shall: a. Conduct mapping of potential food donors and recipients; b. Coordinate regular surplus food pickups and redistribution; c. Monitor local compliance with this Act. The DSWD, as the coordinating agency between the food businesses and food 10 banks, shall: a. Provide guidelines and standards for the collection, storage, and distribution of edible food donated to food banks. b. Ensure that the food businesses have entered into contracts with food banks and issue acceptance certificates to food businesses. c. Promote linkages between food banks and LGUs to create a community- based food distribution system for the food insecure. d. Create a Self-Sufficiency Program that will provide food insecure with skills training on managing food banks and livelihood programs to avoid the dependence on donations solely.

Sec. 8. Penal Provisions. - The penalty of prision correctiona/ will be imposed on

any individual, private or public, who deliberately makes food waste unfit for consumption. The same penalty is applicable to private or public actors who prevent 23 the redirection of edible food waste to food banks or inedible food waste to waste management and recycling enterprises.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the

effectivity of this Act, the NNC, in coordination with DSWD, DA, DOH, DENR, DILG, and the private sector, shall formulate the IRR necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared

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

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Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, memorandum

2 orders, memorandum circulars, administrative orders, ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

6 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of national circulation. Approved