Senator wants food surplus donated to food banks

SENATE president pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada has filed a bill seeking to require food manufacturers and establishments to donate their excess edible food for charitable purposes.

In filing Senate Bill No. 1644, or the proposed “Food Surplus Reduction Act,” Estrada said government should adopt a system to promote, facilitate, and ensure the reduction of food surplus by redistributing and recycling them.

The proposed bill requires owners of covered establishments to segregate their edible from inedible food surplus. A duly trained sanitary inspector from the local government unit (LGU) will check and assess before approving if the food is fit for consumption before donating it to food banks accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The DSWD-accredited food banks will be tasked to distribute the edible food surplus to those in need, in coordination with LGUs.

The DSWD shall provide the guidelines and standards for the collection, storage, and distribution of edible food donated to food banks.

Estrada’s bill includes a provision creating a self-sufficiency program for the intended beneficiaries to have skills training in managing food banks and livelihood programs to avoid dependency on donations.

Estrada said a liability protection clause is also included to protect food donors from possible abuses and to encourage donations.

Under the bill, food-related business owners are liable only while they possess the food surplus. Once the donation reaches accredited food banks, they will be exempt from any liability or injury related to the food items.

Estrada said reselling of donated food is strictly prohibited, adding that those who will be caught will face a penalty of prision mayor and those who would cause edible food surplus to become unfit for human consumption will be slapped with a fine ranging from P1 million to P5 million.

SB 1644 also mandates a National Zero Food Waste Campaign to raise awareness of the impact of food surplus and strategies to decrease wasted food at the household level.

“The reduction of food waste will not only address the food shortage in the country, including the international community, but also mitigate the