PASAY CITY -- Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda reiterates the importance and urgency of passing Senate Bill No. 240 or the Zero Food Waste Act of 2022 following the recent report of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) of wasted rice in the Philippines amounting to P7.2 billion.

"Our country is rich in food resources, yet millions of Filipinos cannot afford three meals daily. The excess edible food supply must be highlighted and utilized to feed the millions of hungry Filipinos," Legarda said. 

Senator Legarda emphasizes that the Zero Food Waste Act of 2022 is a timely response to the country's pressing issue of food waste. The measure aims to implement a system that will encourage food waste reduction in the country through recycling and redistribution.

In doing so, the proposed legislation will mandate a specific government agency to launch the National Zero Food Waste Campaign, raise awareness on this issue, and develop a Food-related Business Waste Reduction Strategy and a Household and Local Government Unit Waste Reduction Strategy.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) also said that a shortage of 80,000 metric tons of rice from July to September this year is expected.

Legarda is confident that all these concerns about rice production and food wastage can be addressed if the food recovery and redistribution network is established once the bill is passed.

"The Zero Food Waste Act of 2022 is not just about reducing food waste; it is also about promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of food waste. When food is wasted, we not only lose the resources and energy that went into producing it, but we also contribute to producing methane gas that contributes to climate change," Legarda explained. 

 She continues to rally for support and immediate action to address this pressing issue of food waste.

"The issue of food waste will continue to be a problem unless we act on it now," she stressed. (KSAA – PIA CPSD with information from OSLL)