Disaster Food Bank and Stockpile Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL - 3 P4:00 SENATE S. No. 7717 - Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DISASTER FOOD BANK AND STOCKPILE FOR EVERY PROVINCE AND HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FOR THEIR MAINTENANCE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Republic Act No. 10121 or the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010" mandates, among others, the institutionalization of arrangement and measures for reducing disaster risks, including projected climate risks, and enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities at all levels'. As defined therein, "disaster preparedness" includes activities as contingency planning, stockpiling of equipment and supplies, the development of arrangements for coordination, evacuation and public information, and associated training and field exercises. Several countries have set up and maintained national stockpiles over the years in order to ensure that food and essential supplies are available? as seen in the following examples: Singapore Food Agency and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore to diversify food sources, the United States' Strategic National 1 Republic Act No. 10121, Section 2 (e) 2 https://reference.nlb.gov.sg/guides/business/global-economy/stockpiling/

Stockpile of medical supplies and Finland's National Emergency Supply Agency which maintains different stockpiles from fuel to medicine and food. 3 Following the global supply chain disruptions triggered by the pandemic, armed conflicts, and other trade uncertainties, establishing stockpiles have become a rational response to guarantee immediate and reliable supply of basic necessities, at least for a short-term period. In addition, considering the country's vulnerability to severe weather disturbances, geological phenomena, and adverse effects of rapidly changing climate, disaster preparedness and response strategies must be further enhanced. This measure aims to institutionalize the effective mobilization and prepositioning of food and non-food items at strategic areas to ensure urgent relief and humanitarian assistance for families displaced by natural calamities and emergencies. We also do not want a repeat of what happened during the raging health crisis when the country did not have enough domestic inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE) which could have halted the spread of the disease early on and could have saved lives. The proposed stockpile shall be housed in a calamity-proof and secure structure/warehouse and shall be jointly managed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The passage of this legislation is hereby endorsed. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 3 https://reference.nlb.gov.sg/guides/business/global-economy/stockpiling/

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -3 P4:00 SENATE PitA S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DISASTER FOOD BANK AND STOCKPILE FOR EVERY PROVINCE AND HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FOR THEIR MAINTENANCE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 "Disaster Food Bank

and Stockpile Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared the policy of the State to protect

the people from the adverse effects of calamities and emergencies by ensuring continuous, immediate and adequate supply of essential items and materials and preventing whenever possible the dangerous and costly dependence of the Philippines on foreign nations and organizations for supplies of such items and materials and the country's vulnerability to production and supply-chain disruptions. Article II, Section 9 of the Constitution declares that "the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all." These policies and principles shall be upheld and promoted by ensuring supply of food, water and other essential goods during calamities through strategic

prepositioning of the same in all provinces and highly urbanized cities of the Philippines. In achieving the same, the implementers shall likewise promote agriculture, livelihood, and income generation for local producers by using the agricultural products of the locality for the supplies to be stored in the Disaster Food Bank and Stockpile established under this Act.

Sec. 3. Establishment of Disaster Food Bank and Stockpile. - A Disaster Food

Bank and Stockpile, hereinafter referred to as the Stockpile, shall be established as central repository and supply reserve of food, water, medicines, vaccines, antidotes, and other critical medical supplies, and other essential goods such as portable power source, first aid kits, portable light source, clothing, tents, and communication devices for every province and highly urbanized city of the Philippines, intended for basic and augmentation support along disaster response and recovery operations: Provided, That such items and materials shall be non-perishable or shall have a shelf life of at least two (2) years for food items: Provided, further, That if simultaneous establishment of the same in all provinces and highly urbanized cities is impracticable due to financial and logistical considerations, priority shall be given to island provinces or island regions, coastal provinces, earthquake-prone provinces, provinces with a highly active volcano, and other similarly situated provinces: Provided, furthermore, That existing warehouses and structures used by the government in storing and prepositioning food and non-food items during calamities may be converted or upgraded into a Food Bank and Stockpile in accordance with the minimum standards set under this Act: Provided, finally, That contiguous provinces and highly urbanized cities may temporarily share Disaster Food Bank and Stockpile among each other, in the absence of readily available land or structures which meet the specifications set under this Act.

Sec. 4. Management and Supervision of the Disaster Food Bank and Stockpile.

- The Stockpile shall be jointly managed and supervised by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The expertise and cooperation of the following agencies shall likewise be required for the full and efficient implementation of this Act: 1) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);

2) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); 3) Department of Agriculture (DA); 4) Department of Science and Technology (DOST); and 5) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Sec. 5. Location of the Stockpile. - The NDRRMC shall determine the actual

locations of the Stockpile, taking into consideration equitable distribution among the regions of the country, accessibility, safety and security from natural and human- induced disasters, and the strategic mobilization and immediate release of the stockpile in case of a disaster or an emergency. The actual locations shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be publicly disseminated.

Sec. 6. Disaster Food Bank and Stockpile Structure. - Every Stockpile shall be

housed in a calamity-proof structure or warehouse, hereinafter referred to as the Structure, to be designed and constructed by the DPWH. Said Structure shall be designed with the following specifications and considerations: a) The Structure shall be able to withstand Category 5 typhoons, high magnitude earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and storm surges; b) The size and volumetric capacity of the Structure shall be sufficient to hold supplies of food, water, essential goods, and other basic necessities for the whole population of the province for at least three (3) weeks; c) The Structure shall be powered using sustainable sources such as solar, wind, or hydro-electric power, and shall have backup power in case of power outages; d) Measures shall be taken to ensure that the Structure is secure from unauthorized access, thievery, and looting. Limited and secure access granted to the officials in charge of its maintenance and replenishment shall likewise be included in the design; and e) The Structure shall be vermin-proof and well-insulated and designed to be fire-resistant and fully equipped with fire distinguishers in case of fires resulting from electrical fault, accident or arson.

Sec. 7. Quantity and Replenishment of the Stockpile. - The quantity and volume

of the Stockpile shall be strictly and regularly monitored and maintained.

Replenishment, replacement, and addition to the Stockpile shall be done on an annual basis or as often as may be deemed necessary. Pursuant to this, a computerized system for the real-time monitoring of the date of expiration and shelf-life of the items and materials in the Stockpile shall be set up to avoid unnecessary wastage and decay. If after the lapse of twelve (12) months from any instance of stockpiling, the remaining unused goods in a Stockpile shall be distributed by the DSWD to the indigent communities through any of their programs. The stockpiling and regular replenishment of supplies shall be spearheaded and facilitated through the coordinated efforts of the DSWD, DTI, DA, and DOST, with the following guidelines: a) The DSWD shall: 1) Update the institutionalized and standard contents of their family food pack (FFP) and devise each FFP to contain all regular necessities such as rice, canned goods, basic medication, water, and ready-to-eat meals including the locally processed and produced products of the local farmers and micro-producers of the respective provinces/localities; and 2) Make use of the fund allocation for the procurement of FFPs to purchase the collated products of the local farmers and micro-producers. b) The DA, through their Provincial Directors, shall organize all farmers and micro-producers in their respective provinces and facilitate the production and purchase of their local produce. They shall ensure that the demand for raw materials and agricultural produce are equitably distributed among all farmers and micro-producers in the locality. c) The DTI, through their Provincial Directors, shall facilitate the purchase of non-agricultural products, such as clothing, shelter materials, essential equipment, and other essential goods from local suppliers and producers. They shall ensure that the demand for such products is equitably distributed among all suppliers and producers in the locality. d) The DOST, through their Provincial Directors, shall facilitate the processing of all agricultural and non-agricultural raw materials and products into preserved goods or ready-to-eat meals, as well as the procurement or production of water filtration devices and systems to be stocked into the

Stockpile. The DOST shall likewise ensure that the processed food packs and products do not expire for at least two (2) years. In the stockpiling process, the DSWD and the DILG, through their Regional Directors, shall provide the DA, DTI, and DOST the necessary data such as the number of beneficiaries per barangay, municipality, city or province, and other necessary information to make sure that the raw materials to be procured and the stocks to be 7 processed will be sufficient for all constituents for at least three (3) weeks following a calamity. During the initiation and replenishment of stockpiling processes, the DILG and the DSWD shall monitor any change in the number of beneficiaries to make the necessary adjustment in the process of procurement of raw agricultural and non- agricultural goods and stockpiling.

Sec. 8. Utilization and Deployment of the Stockpile. - In the event of any

calamity, the NDRRMC and the DSWD shall initiate the use and deployment of the stocks in the Stockpile. Any order of utilization and deployment shall be accompanied with a time-specific plan for the replenishment and replacement of the withdrawn supplies. The NDRRMC, through the local councils, shall issue an order, memorandum or circular to access and distribute the goods in the Stockpile. They shall likewise facilitate the provision of adequate local transportation from the Stockpile to the affected barangays. The DSWD and the DILG shall identify the areas affected and coordinate with the NDRRMC for the system of utilization, deployment, and distribution of goods in the Stockpile: Provided, That the same shall be efficient and immediate. A first-in, first-out system or any similar arrangement shall be adopted in the utilization and deployment of the Stockpile. Items and materials that will be near their expiration dates or the end of their shelf-life shall be donated and transferred to the appropriate government agencies and institutions such as the DSWD, the Department of Health, government hospitals and local government units for immediate distribution to indigent citizens or other beneficiaries as may be identified by the concerned agency or institution, subject to immediate replenishment and replacement and reservation for imminent calamities or emergencies.

Sec. 9. Prepositioning of the Stockpile. - In preparation of the occurrence of a

disaster or calamity that can be reasonably predicted using available technology or information, the NDRRMC shall preposition items and materials from the Stockpile in secured Structures near the areas expected to be affected by the disaster or calamity. The following areas are the priority for prepositioning of food and non-food items: 1) Island municipalities; 2) Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) or Hard to Reach Areas; and 3) 4th to 5th class municipalities. All relief resources prepositioned in the strategic areas not owned by the DSWD shall be subject to the provisions of a Prepositioning Agreement between the DSWD and its partner organization.

Sec. 10. Annual Report. - The NDRRMC shall submit to the Office of the

12 President, the Senate of the Philippines, and the House of Representatives, within the first quarter of every year, an annual report relating to the progress of the implementation of this Act. The confidentiality of the locations of the Stockpile shall be observed in the Annual Report.

Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the NDRRMC, in consultation with the DSWD, DPWH, DTI, DA, DOST, and other relevant government agencies, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.

Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation

of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the departments and agencies concerned. Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is

declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

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

publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,