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Let’s hope this gets implemented properly.

“The Manila City Council is gearing up for a massive information campaign to owners of food establishments about the importance and implementation of the Republic Act 9803 or the Food Donation Act of 2009 in the country,” reports Jenny F. Manongdo in Manila Bulletin.

The report noted: “The Food Donation Act of 2009 aims to reduce food wastage by encouraging the donation of food for charitable purposes, ‘wholesome food’ or food that meets quality standards, clean excess food, and not leftover except milk products.”

According to Councilors John Marvin Nieto (a.k.a. actor Yul Servo) and Marlon Lacson, the law “remains ‘unknown’ to most hotel and restaurant owners and operators, thus, making them ‘unwilling’ to donate excess food in their establishments to charitable purposes.”

The report explained that “the law designates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the main coordinating agency in the implementation of the law with the Philippine Red Cross as its auxiliary arm.”

The report added that “in local governments, the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations designate the city social welfare offices as the ones responsible for collecting, inspecting, testing, storing, and distributing perishable food donations.”

It goes without saying that the institutions in charge will ensure that the food donations are safe for consumption.

Photo: MorgueFile