A bill providing a framework to protect and promote the right to adequate food hurdled second reading approval at the House of Representatives.
The chamber approved via voice vote House Bill 8242, or the proposed Right To Adequate Food Act.
The bill recognizes that every person has a right to be free from hunger.
Every person suffering from hunger or undernutrition, or at risk of suffering from hunger or undernutrition is entitled to a minimum amount of food according to one’s age, sex, health status, and occupation.
The bill aims for a zero incidence of hunger within the 10-year period.
It sets percentage targets on the reduction of hunger and aims for a zero incidence of hunger within the 10-year period.
The bill mandates the State to ensure that the following indicators will considerably and steadily increase: percentage of development of ancestral lands; the percentage of rural population with access to productive resources; share of budget spent on programs aimed at creating access to productive resources; the percentage of budget spent on agri-research, agri-extension, irrigation, training, technology, credits, and rural development; and percentage of rural female-headed households, or rural women, with legal title to agriculture lands.
Other indicators that need to be improved on include the percentage of public budget allocation for social transfer programs to those unable to feed themselves; coverage of marginalized and disadvantaged population taking part in social transfer programs; the percentage of marginalized and disadvantaged population covered by a public nutrition supplement program; the percentage of the population aware of available food and nutrition programs; and coverage of school feeding programs.
A Commission on the Right to Adequate Food will be created as the primary policy-making and coordinating body.
The bill proposes the creation of the Commission on the Right to Adequate Food, which shall act as the primary policy-making and coordinating body to guarantee the full exercise of the right to adequate food.
The proposed commission shall implement programs of action to eradicate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.