Zero Food Waste Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 25 JUL 14 A11:37 SENATE RECEIVED 1 S. No.- Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR FOOD WASTE PREVENTION, RECOVERY, AND REDISTRIBUTION, MANDATING THE SAFE DONATION AND UTILIZATION OF SURPLUS FOOD, STRENGTHENING MULTI-SECTORAL ACTION AGAINST HUNGER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Globally, food waste has reached alarming levels. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption, or about 1.3 billion metric tons annually, is lost or wasted. This occurs despite the persistent presence of hunger and food insecurity across many countries, especially in the developing world. In the case of the Philippines, the situation presents a striking contradiction. Based on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Food Waste Index Report 2021, households in the Philippines collectively waste around 9.33 million metric tons of food each year. This volume of discarded edible food could theoretically feed the millions of Filipinos who struggle with hunger multiple times over. At the same time, data from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) show that in the first quarter of 2024, 12.6 percent of Filipino families, or approximately 3.3 million households, experienced involuntary hunger due to a lack of access to food. In a previous survey by the Department of Science and Technology's Food and Nutrition Research Institute, 62.1 percent of Filipino households reported moderate to severe food insecurity in 2020. The Philippine Statistics Authority also recorded 4,844 deaths

due to malnutrition between January and October 2021, underscoring the fatal consequences of prolonged hunger. This paradox, where food is wasted while many go hungry, is not only a moral and social issue but also a failure of systems and infrastructure. It reflects gaps in food distribution, weak logistical coordination, the absence of a national standard for donation, and a lack of incentives or protections for those who wish to share surplus food. While many Filipinos-ranging from small businesses and restaurants to private individuals and volunteer groups-have made sincere efforts to rescue edible food and distribute it to communities in need, these acts of compassion remain scattered and unsupported by national policy. To truly address food waste and hunger, the country must adopt a more structured and coordinated approach. This bill proposes the creation of a comprehensive national framework for food waste prevention, recovery, and redistribution. It establishes a legally binding food waste hierarchy to guide priorities and interventions, mandates the safe donation of surplus food, empowers local government units and micro, small, and medium enterprises through technical support and digital tools, and institutionalizes education, transparency, and accountability. It also seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfill waste by encouraging composting and circular food systems. The Zero Food Waste Act recognizes that food waste is not just a matter of individual behavior but a systemic challenge that must be met with policy, planning, and innovation. It affirms the State's responsibility to ensure that edible food is not wasted, but is instead redirected to where it is most needed-whether for feeding families, supporting public nutrition programs, or sustaining climate-resilient communities. In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. LOREN LEGARDA

SPRAID TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES A11:37 First Regular Session 25 JUL 14 RECEIVED BY SENATE S. No. 509 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR FOOD WASTE PREVENTION, RECOVERY, AND REDISTRIBUTION, MANDATING THE SAFE DONATION AND UTILIZATION OF SURPLUS FOOD, STRENGTHENING MULTI-SECTORAL ACTION AGAINST HUNGER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

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

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to affirm and uphold

3 the constitutional right of every Filipino to adequate food and freedom from hunger. 4 In pursuit of this mandate, and in recognition of the widespread food insecurity, 5 systemic inefficiencies in the food supply chain, and the climate consequences of food 6 waste, the State shall adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach 7 to reduce food loss and waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure equitable 8 access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all. To this end, the State shall promote the sustainable transformation of food 10 systems by minimizing preventable food loss and waste across all stages of the supply 11 chain; encourage circular economy principles; support good-faith food donation; and 12 align food waste reduction efforts with national goals on nutrition, disaster resilience, 13 climate action, and social protection. The national food waste prevention and recovery framework shall be operationalized through a legally binding hierarchy of preferred interventions and corresponding duties, as provided in Section 4 of this Act. A culture of behavioral responsibility, public transparency, and multi-sectoral accountability shall be

1 institutionalized to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to actively participate in addressing food waste.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms

shall be defined as: a. Food Loss - the decrease in quantity or quality of food intended for human consumption that occurs from harvest up to, but not including, the retail level due to inefficiencies in storage, transport, handling, or processing; b. Food Waste - food intended for human consumption that is discarded, whether or not it remains fit for consumption, occurring at the retail, food service, and consumer levels; c. Surplus Food - food products that are safe and fit for human consumption but are not sold or consumed due to overproduction, mislabeling, aesthetic standards, nearing "best before" dates, or other non-health-related reasons; d. Edible Food - any food product that complies with safety, hygiene, and labeling requirements and is suitable for human consumption, regardless of aesthetic or packaging concerns; e. Food Recovery Organization - any duly registered non-profit, community group, religious or charitable institution, or food bank engaged in the rescue, handling, redistribution, or processing of edible surplus food; and f. Covered Establishments - food retailers, manufacturers, distributors, groceries, restaurants, hotels, institutional kitchens, and similar facilities producing or handling food, with a minimum floor area, sales volume, or waste generation threshold to be defined in the IRR.

Sec. 4. National Food Waste Reduction and Recovery Hierarchy. - To ensure

the efficient and responsible management of surplus and waste food, all actors within the food supply chain, including producers, processors, distributors, retailers, food service providers, and households, shall manage food resources in accordance with the following legally binding hierarchy, ranked from the most to the least preferred intervention: a. Prevention - Avoiding the generation of food waste at its source shall be the top priority. This includes: Forecasting demand accurately to minimize overproduction and over-purchasing; Implementing inventory management

systems (e.g., first-in-first-out, batch tracking); Improving harvesting, storage, processing, and packaging techniques to minimize loss and spoilage; Encouraging portion control and proper menu planning in food service and hospitality settings; Promoting awareness of food waste and wasteful consumption habits through consumer education and producer training; b. Donation and Recovery - Safe and edible surplus food that is no longer saleable but remains fit for human consumption shall be: Segregated, labeled, and stored appropriately for donation; Collected or delivered to accredited food recovery organizations, community pantries, soup kitchens, LGU-run food banks, or other social feeding mechanisms; Accompanied by proper documentation (e.g., donation receipts, traceability logs) in accordance with the IRR; Donated in compliance with food safety standards, including temperature control, packaging integrity, and expiration guidelines as determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health (DOH); c. Utilization as Animal Feed - Surplus food and food by-products not suitable for human consumption but deemed safe for animal nutrition shall be: Evaluated and cleared for use as livestock or aquaculture feed in accordance with existing guidelines of the Department of Agriculture (DA); Segregated from contaminated, hazardous, or prohibited items (e.g., swill from ports or airports); Processed, stored, and transported in accordance with biosafety protocols to prevent disease transmission and environmental harm; d. Composting and Energy Recovery - Food waste that is no longer fit for consumption by humans or animals shall be diverted from landfill by: Processing through composting, vermiculture, or biogas digesters, whether at household, institutional, or municipal scale; Partnering with LGUs or private sector composting facilities to ensure collection and reuse of organic waste; Following proper segregation of biodegradable waste from recyclables, plastics, and hazardous materials to prevent contamination of composting systems; e. Final Disposal - Landfilling or incineration shall be used strictly as a last resort and only when: The food waste is no longer safe or feasible to reuse, recycle, or recover; All prior recovery options under this section have been

demonstrably exhausted or proven infeasible by the LGU or responsible agency; Disposal follows the standards under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA No. 9003), the Clean Air Act, and other relevant environmental regulations. The National Nutrition Council (NNC), in consultation with the Department of 6 Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the DA, and DILG, shall issue guidelines 7 for operationalizing this hierarchy, including reporting protocols, compliance timelines, 8 and performance-based incentives.

Sec. 5. Mandatory Donation and Recovery Obligations. -

(a) All covered establishments, as defined in this Act-including but not limited to food retailers with a selling area of at least two hundred (200) square meters, supermarkets, groceries, food manufacturers, distributors, restaurants, hotels, catering services, and institutional kitchens shall be required to: 1. Implement continuous segregation and inventory of surplus food suitable for human consumption, based on first-expiry-first-out (FEFO) or equivalent food recovery practices; 2. Enter into at least one (1) formal Food Recovery Agreement within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act with an accredited food recovery organization, LGU-designated food bank, or community redistribution partner; 3. Ensure full compliance with applicable safety, packaging, labeling, and traceability protocols, including cold chain handling, food-grade containers, and voluntary date labeling adjustments where permitted by DTI and FDA guidelines; 4. Designate a Food Waste Compliance Officer or unit, responsible for donation processes, coordinating with partner overseeing organizations, maintaining documentation, and ensuring submission of annual food waste reports under Section 9 of this Act; and 5. Display a public notice of food donation participation within their premises and on their official website or social media platforms, as

part of public transparency and encouragement of similar practices by consumers and industry peers. (b) No covered establishment may dispose of, render inedible, or destroy edible surplus food unless: 1. The food is determined to pose a significant and immediate health or safety risk to humans or animals, as certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or designated local food safety officer; 2. The food has deteriorated beyond reasonable recovery, despite best- effort compliance with handling and storage protocols; and 3. The disposal is covered by a duly recorded and justified exemption issued under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), subject to periodic review by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and partner regulatory agencies. (c) Covered establishments that fail to comply with any of the mandatory obligations under this Section, including failure to maintain donation partnerships, repeated non-segregation of surplus food, or destruction of edible food without justification, shall be subject to administrative sanctions as provided under this Act, without prejudice to the imposition of additional penalties under other applicable laws.

Sec. 6. Incentives and Protections for Donors. - Donors acting in good faith

who donate surplus food that is safe for consumption shall be exempt from civil and criminal liability for harm caused by the nature, age, packaging, or condition of the 23 donated food, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Donated food shall be exempt from donor's tax and other local business fees, provided such donations are made to duly accredited food recovery organizations and recorded in accordance with this Act. Donations under this Act may be deductible as allowable 27 expense or charitable contribution under the National Internal Revenue Code, as may be determined by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Participating food establishments with consistent compliance and innovative recovery practices may be eligible for: a. Public recognition and certification under a national "Walang Tapon Seal of Compliance" program;

b. Preferential access to government grants or green finance programs related to food recovery, waste management, or climate action; and c. Reporting credits under applicable ESG or CSR disclosure requirements. Private enterprises and technology providers shall be encouraged to develop 5 and deploy digital or logistics innovations that support food recovery and waste 6 tracking.

Sec. 7. Roles and Responsibilities of Local Government Units (LGUs). -

a) All LGUs, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall support the implementation of this Act by: 1. Establishing, operating, or accrediting community-based food recovery infrastructure, including food banks, food pantries, food recovery hubs, or mobile redistribution networks at the barangay, municipal, city, or provincial level; 2. Maintaining an up-to-date registry of certified food recovery organizations, food donors, and logistics providers within their jurisdiction, in coordination with the National Food Waste and Recovery Portal and relevant agencies; 3. Embedding food waste recovery strategies into local governance instruments, including but not limited to the Local Development Plan (LDP), Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP), Local Nutrition Action Plan (LNAP), Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), and Local DRRM Plan; 4. Designating a Local Food Recovery Focal Person or unit within the City or Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO/MENRO) or Social Welfare Office to oversee coordination, data reporting, and implementation. b) LGUs may enter into public-private or civil society partnerships with food establishments, cooperatives, civic and church organizations, logistics companies, or community kitchens to: 1. Facilitate the collection, temporary storage, cold-chain transport, or redistribution of surplus food to households and communities in need;

2. Establish shared-use equipment and logistics resources (e.g., community cold storage, mobile vans, food-grade bins) accessible to multiple partners to support localized food recovery operations; 3. Develop innovative models for "barangay food redistribution networks," such as community kitchens, food shelf systems, or rotating neighborhood fridges; 4. Pilot the use of technology-based matching or tracking platforms in coordination with the National Portal under Section 14. c) LGUs shall promote the safe and sustainable disposal of inedible food waste by: 1. Incorporating composting, biogas recovery, animal feed conversion, or other circular waste recovery mechanisms into their Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan (ESWMP), pursuant to RA No. 9003; 2. Partnering with accredited waste recovery and recycling enterprises to ensure proper diversion of non-edible food waste from landfills or illegal disposal; 3. Conducting barangay-level household food waste education and segregation campaigns, with emphasis on avoiding food waste, reusing leftovers, and composting kitchen waste; 4. Incentivizing model barangays or households with verifiable food waste reduction or composting success, through local recognition, grants, or participation in national recognition programs. d) The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the NNC, shall issue harmonized guidelines and performance targets to guide LGU compliance and innovation under this Act. These guidelines should also consider the establishment of a performance- based evaluation system that links LGU compliance with eligibility for food recovery grants, nutrition funding, or GAA-based incentives and the integration of food waste recovery indicators in the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) or equivalent local governance assessment tools.

Sec. 8. Education, Training, and Public Awareness on Food Waste Prevention. -

a) The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall: 1. Integrate food waste prevention, recovery strategies, and circular food systems into the basic education curriculum, particularly in subjects such as home education, science, values education, and Araling Panlipunan; 2. Include climate-smart, zero-waste food system principles in senior high school technical-vocational tracks related to hospitality, food service, entrepreneurship, and agriculture; 3. Encourage the creation of school-based composting, gardening, and feeding programs using recovered food ingredients and biodegradable scraps, subject to food safety protocols. b) The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in consultation with TESDA, shall: 1. Encourage state universities and colleges (SUCs), private HEIs, and training institutions to incorporate end-of-life food management, surplus planning, and food recovery logistics in curricula for agriculture, food science, business administration, nutrition, hospitality, environmental management, and logistics; 2. Promote research and innovation on food waste prevention technologies, surplus food utilization, and cold-chain systems among academic institutions and R&D centers. c) The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall: 1. Integrate food waste prevention protocols into competency- based training and certification programs for restaurant operators, food processors, caterers, hotel staff, and agri- business workers;

2. Ensure that skills development programs for the food and agri sector include modules on surplus management, waste minimization, and logistics optimization from farm to fork. d) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with business associations, chambers of commerce, and other relevant agencies and institutions, shall: 1. Promote and incentivize the adoption of food waste-conscious business models, including circular kitchen planning, farm-to- rescue supply chains, portion optimization, and ugly-produce integration; 2. Encourage capacity building and mentoring for MSMEs in the food sector to integrate food waste reduction strategies into product development, menu design, procurement, logistics, and facility layout; 3. Issue harmonized and consumer-friendly food labeling guidelines, including clear distinctions between "Best Before" and "Use By" dates; 4. Require food manufacturers and retailers to adopt visible date- marking formats that reduce confusion and prevent unnecessary disposal of still-edible food; 5. Develop informational materials and campaigns to promote food literacy, safe leftover handling, and proper food storage practices. e) The DTI, in partnership with LGUs and TESDA, shall provide technical assistance to MSMEs to facilitate compliance with food donation and reporting obligations under this Act. The DTI, in coordination with the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED), shall develop and disseminate MSME-friendly compliance tools, including standard templates for Food Recovery Agreements, simplified traceability and reporting forms, and model protocols for segregation, storage, and donation of surplus food. The DTI shall also explore cost- sharing schemes or logistical pooling with LGUs, cooperatives, or development partners to support the participation of micro and small

food retailers, eateries, or carinderias in food donation and recovery efforts. f) The Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), shall: 1. Promote awareness and dissemination of knowledge on safe, locally available, and traditionally edible food sources, including but not limited to wild vegetables, mushrooms, seaweeds, root crops, fruits, and medicinal plants; 2. Encourage responsible foraging and use of indigenous food sources, especially in schools, communities, and local government feeding programs, without compromising biodiversity or food safety; 3. Support the development of community-based food atlases or guides, in partnership with state universities, local knowledge holders, and Indigenous Peoples' communities, to document and validate edible wild food sources that are culturally significant and nutritionally valuable.

Sec. 9. Monitoring, Targets, and Reporting. -

a) The National Nutrition Council (NNC) shall serve as the lead agency for monitoring and reporting under this Act, in close coordination with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other relevant agencies. The NNC shall: 1. Develop, operationalize, and manage the National Food Waste and Recovery Monitoring System (NFW-RMS), which shall track in real- time or periodic intervals the quantity and nature of food waste generation, recovery, redistribution, and disposal across various sectors-retail, food service, households, hospitality, and agriculture;

2. Set and update national, sectoral, and regional targets for food waste prevention and recovery, using disaggregated benchmarks across sectors, and taking into account poverty incidence, hunger hotspots, urban-rural dynamics, and existing waste infrastructure capacity; 3. Publish an Annual Food Waste and Recovery Scorecard, identifying: Top-performing LGUs, sectors, and establishments; Areas with the highest volumes of waste and the lowest levels of recovery; Trends in food loss across the supply chain; Progress toward the national food waste reduction targets; 4. Establish standards and formats for Food Waste Reduction Statements, which shall form part of the mandatory annual reporting requirements of medium and large food-related enterprises under existing CSR or ESG frameworks, and which may include: Volume of food waste prevented or diverted; Details of donation partnerships and recovery mechanisms; Innovations adopted in business practices or community engagement; Challenges encountered and lessons learned. 5. Consolidate LGU reports and monitor compliance across all implementing units, including data submitted via the National Food Waste and Recovery Portal under Section 14 of this Act. b) All covered establishments shall prepare and submit an Annual Food Waste Management Report to: Their respective LGUs; The NNC via the Monitoring System and Portal; and The appropriate regulatory body, depending on the sector. The format, frequency, and minimum content of such reports shall be prescribed by the IRR, and may include quantity (in metric tons) of edible and inedible food waste, methods of disposal or recovery, and compliance with donation obligations. c) The NNC may engage academic institutions, civil society partners, and accredited third-party auditors to support: 1. Independent compliance validation and data quality assurance; 2. Technical assistance for low-capacity LGUs or establishments;

3. Development of behaviorally informed metrics and sectoral toolkits.

Sec. 10. Emergency Linkages and Public Feeding Integration. -

a) The DSWD, in partnership with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local governments, shall: 1. Establish protocols to integrate safe surplus food into emergency food relief programs, such as for disaster victims, evacuees, and vulnerable households; 2. Designate accredited redistribution channels to absorb post- harvest or retail-level surplus for immediate feeding operations during emergency response; 3. Maintain strategic buffer food stocks at LGU- or NGO-run food banks to support seasonal surges in hunger. b) The DepEd and DSWD shall explore integrating surplus food into school- based feeding programs, provided food safety and nutritional quality standards are met. c) The Department of Health (DOH) shall ensure that all food used in public distribution adheres to minimum hygiene and nutritional standards and shall coordinate with FDA and LGUs in issuing safety advisories and preventive measures.

Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the implementation of this

Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) under the 23 budgets of the concerned implementing agencies.

Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred twenty

25 (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the National Nutrition Council (NNC), in coordination with DEPDev, DSWD, DENR, DepEd, DTI, DOH, and other concerned agencies, shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for its effective implementation. The IRR shall be developed through public consultation, and shall include timelines, technical standards, and compliance mechanisms consistent with the provisions of this Act.

The NNC, in coordination with the concerned agencies, may issue supplemental 2 guidelines to refine implementation tools, update data indicators, or adapt to emerging 3 challenges related to food waste and recovery.

Sec. 13. Penal Provisions/Penalties. -

a) Any person who knowingly and maliciously contaminates, poisons, or renders edible surplus food unsafe or injurious to health, with the intent to harm potential recipients or to obstruct food recovery, shall suffer the penalty of reclusión temporal, as provided under the Revised Penal Code, without prejudice to prosecution under the Food Safety Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act, or other applicable laws; b) Any person who shall knowingly and willfully destroy, spoil, or dispose of edible food in violation of this Act, for the purpose of preventing its lawful donation or redirection, shall be punished with the penalty of prisión correccional, in accordance with Article 27 of the Revised Penal Code; c) Any person who shall willfully obstruct, delay, or prevent the recovery or redistribution of edible surplus food or the composting of inedible food waste, in violation of this Act or its Implementing Rules, shall likewise be punished with prisión correccional; d) If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer, director, manager, or employee responsible for the act, without prejudice to the imposition of corporate administrative penalties under existing laws and regulations. e) In addition to criminal liability, covered establishments that repeatedly fail to comply with the donation and recovery obligations under this Act, without valid justification, shall be subject to the following administrative penalties, after due notice and hearing: 1. First offense - Written warning and mandatory compliance orientation; 2. Second offense - Fine of not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000);

3. Third and subsequent offenses - Fine of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000) and/or suspension of business permits, as may be imposed by the appropriate regulatory agency or LGU. f) Local Government Units found to have deliberately failed to comply with their mandates under this Act, including obstruction of donation efforts, non-accreditation of recovery organizations, or unjustified delays in implementation, shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action under existing DILG and Civil Service Commission rules, including ineligibility for performance-based grants or recognitions under the GAA or SGLG. 9) Accredited food recovery organizations that willfully misrepresent donation data, misuse recovered food, or operate without safety compliance shall face revocation of accreditation, blacklisting, or fines, as determined in the IRR.

Sec. 14. National Food Waste and Recovery Portal. -

a) The National Nutrition Council (NNC), in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall develop and maintain a centralized digital platform known as the National Food Waste and Recovery Portal, which shall serve as the official system for coordinating, monitoring, and showcasing food waste reduction and recovery efforts across the country. b) The Portal shall include, at a minimum, the following features, without prejudice to further enhancements, integrations, or harmonization to be provided under the IRR of this Act: 1. Donation Matching System - to link food donors (e.g., retailers, restaurants, manufacturers) with accredited food banks, LGUs, and CSO partners based on location, volume, type of food, and urgency; 2. Reporting Dashboard - for covered establishments, LGUs, and implementing agencies to upload required reports, including

quantity of surplus food donated, recovered, composted, or discarded; 3. CSO and Innovation Map - an open-access section highlighting civil society initiatives, community food redistribution systems, food rescue programs, and startup solutions addressing food waste, with geotagged locations and contact details; 4. Logistics and Cold Chain Support Directory - listing available accredited logistics providers, cold storage hubs, and shared-use transport options that can support food recovery operations; 5. Learning Hub - hosting toolkits, guides, training modules, and IEC materials on food waste prevention, handling, and donation safety; 6. Recognition and Incentives Portal - to showcase top-performing LGUs, establishments, and community programs based on Scorecard results and eligibility for incentives or certification. 7. Open Data and Transparency Dashboard - a publicly accessible component of the Portal that shall regularly publish summary data on food waste generation, recovery, donation volumes, and compliance by covered establishments and LGUs. This dashboard shall be searchable and downloadable, and shall serve as a transparency tool for citizens, researchers, and civil society organizations in monitoring progress and holding actors accountable. Data to be posted shall include, but not be limited to, annual food waste and recovery reports, Scorecard rankings, and donation metrics, subject to data privacy and food safety standards. c) The Portal shall be designed with user-friendly mobile and offline- compatible features, and may allow API integration with LGU systems and third-party applications, provided data privacy and food safety regulations are observed.

d) The DICT shall ensure that the platform complies with accessibility, cybersecurity, and interoperability standards, and shall provide technical support to LGUs and CSOs for its adoption and use. e) All covered establishments, accredited food recovery organizations, and LGUs shall be required to register on the Portal and submit regular updates as provided in the IRR.

Sec. 15. Non-Discrimination Clause. - All food recovery, redistribution,

donation, public feeding, and related programs implemented under this Act shall be conducted in a manner that ensures equitable access to food and services, without 10 discrimination on the basis of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, civil status, disability, ethnicity, religion, political belief, language, health condition, geographic location, socioeconomic status, or any other status protected under the Constitution and applicable laws. All persons shall be treated with dignity 14 and respect, and no one shall be excluded from the benefits of this Act due to stigma, 15 marginalization, or social vulnerability. The NNC, in coordination with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), DSWD, 17 and other relevant agencies, shall ensure that food recovery programs, community 18 feeding operations, and the National Food Waste and Recovery Portal are inclusive, 19 culturally sensitive, and accessible to all, including children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and disaster-affected or geographically isolated communities. Implementing agencies shall adopt appropriate grievance mechanisms 22 and issue guidelines to safeguard against discriminatory practices in the 23 implementation of this Act.

Sec. 16. Non-Politicization of Food Recovery and Redistribution Programs. - All

activities under this Act, including the collection, redistribution, donation, and public feeding of surplus food, shall be conducted in a strictly non-partisan and apolitical manner. No food item, service, or benefit provided under this Act shall bear the name, image, logo, initials, or any representation of a public official, elected or appointed, or any candidate, political party, coalition, or political organization. Public officials and employees are prohibited from using food recovery programs, food banks, community pantries, or public feeding initiatives established under this Act as a platform for personal or political promotion. The NNC, in

1 coordination with the DILG, shall issue guidelines to ensure the impartial 2 implementation of this provision and may recommend administrative or disciplinary 3 action for any violation, without prejudice to sanctions under other applicable election or civil service laws.

Sec. 17. Transitory Clause. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act

6 and its IRR, covered establishments shall comply with the minimum donation, 7 reporting, and portal registration requirements. LGUs shall likewise initiate local implementation plans within the same period. The NNC shall publish an annual 9 implementation roadmap and may phase in certain provisions based on sectoral readiness.

Sec. 18. Congressional Oversight Clause. - The NNC shall submit a

comprehensive report to Congress every three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, including updates on food waste levels, compliance rates, innovations, and implementation gaps. Unless reauthorized by Congress, the provisions of this Act shall be subject to a sunset review by the third year to assess relevance, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with national development plans and international commitments.

Sec. 19. Separability Clause. - Should any part or provision of this Act be

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

Sec. 20. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

21 regulations or any part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, 22 are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon publication in the Official

Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,