Food donation bill to complement government's hunger
mitigation program - Gordon

Senator Richard J. Gordon today said that his proposed food donation bill would help improve the government's hunger mitigation program.

Senate Bill 150, also known as the Food Donation Act, aims to help out less fortunate Filipinos who cannot provide for their basic food requirements. The bill, which Gordon authored, was passed on third reading by the Senate last July 28.

Recently, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 825 creating the local anti-hunger task force that would facilitate the implementation of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP).

The AHMP is the landmark program of the Arroyo government to address hunger both on the aspect of supply, or the unavailability or insufficiency of food to eat, and on the aspect of demand, or the lack of money to buy food.

The AHMP includes programs such as the Food-for-School, which provides a daily ration of one kilo of rice to hungry families through children in Grade 1, pre-school and day care centers; the Gulayan ng Masa, which promotes integrated backyard gardening in rural communities; and the Tindahan Natin, which provides lowpriced but good quality rice and instant noodles to low income families through accredited stores.

Gordon said that his proposed legislation would complement the AHMP as it aims to provide food to those who do not earn enough to satisfy their basic food requirements.

"There is an industry where large amounts of untouched food that are still fit for human consumption are thrown everyday. Instead of throwing away excess food, restaurant owners can donate them to those who are in need. We see an opportunity wherein we address both the insufficiency of food and the lack of money to buy food," he explained.

"The food donation bill aims not only to address the problem of hunger but also to curtail food wastage. Side by side with the government's hunger mitigation program, our proposal would help breach hunger which is widespread in the country," he added.

Gordon said the Food Donation bill aims to breach hunger but is not intended as a dole-out. The idea is is to collect surplus or excess food, and NOT leftovers, from parties, buffets and from restaurants and fast food chains. Milk products could not be included since they have a short shelf life.

"Through this bill, we can teach the poor to create food opportunities for themselves. We are giving them a helping hand until they can regain their ability to feed themselves and therefore get back their dignity," he said..