The Filipinos Right to Food

An Assessment of the Philippine Legal Framework

Governing the Right to Food
Virgilio de los Reyes
Maria Socorro I. Diokno
2008
RA 8976 (Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000) requires the fortification of food to
compensate for inadequacies in the Filipino diet; it has two aspects: voluntary and mandatory.
As a strategy, food fortification should be used only for clear public health purposes to address
existing dietary deficiencies and promote healthy eating. Unfortunately, the law does not
contain clear standards or criteria governing the selection of vehicles for voluntary food
fortification, such as, for instance, requiring fortification only for food that already has some
nutritional value or clearly identifying specific food that should not be eligible for fortification
(for example, food containing high levels of fat, salt or sugar). Such standards would prevent
indiscriminate marketing and promotion of fortified food products of questionable nutritional
quality.
Mandatory food fortification is required for rice, wheat, flour, refined sugar, cooking oil, and
other food staples. (Page 14)
Republic Act 8976, the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000, was signed into law by
President Joseph E. Estrada on 7 November 2000.

THE NAGA CITY GAZETTE

VOLUME I | ISSUE NO.4 | SERIES OF 2012 JANUARY - JUNE 2012
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY (NFA) PROGRAM ON
THE FORTIFICATION OF THE BASIC STAPLE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS I-RICE,
WITHIN THE CITY OF NAGA Sponsor: Hon. Cecilia B. Veluz-De Asis
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 8976, the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000, has mandated
the fortification of staple foods, such as but not limited to rice, flour, cooking oil and refined
sugar;
WHEREAS, such mandatory fortification hopes to compete against the increasing intake of
carbohydrate-rich and less nutritious foods, which contributed to the incidence of micronutrient
malnutrition that affects the populations physical and mental development, work and economic
productivity;
WHEREAS, subsequent to the standards set by the Department of Health (DOH) through the
Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD), the National Food Authority (NFA), as the main stakeholder,
launched a program that seeks to lessen if not totally eliminate malnutrition in the country,
particularly Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA), through the introduction of iron fortificant to rice,
one of our countrys staple food;
WHEREAS, said program known as Iron-Fortified Rice or simply i-Rice, likewise, aims to
intensify the governments campaign against micro-nutrient deficiency especially but not
limited among nursing mothers, pregnant women and young children;
NOW THEREFORE, on motion by Hon. Cecilia B. Veluz De Asis, duly seconded by Hon. Alex
C. Nero.
BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to support the National Food Authority (NFA)
Program on the fortification of the basic staple commonly known as rice, within the City of
Naga.
LET COPIES of this resolution be furnished the Office of His Honor, City Mayor John G.
Bongat, the Offices of the Provincial and Regional NFA, all accredited NFA rice retailers, all
Barangay Councils of Naga City and all other concerned agencies for their information and
guidance.
APPROVED: 2012-216
ADOPTED: April 3, 2012

RESOLUTION CALLING/ REQUESTING ALL OWNERS/MANAGERS/ ADMINISTRATORS

OF RESTAURANTS, EATERIES, CANTEENS, HOTELS, HOSPITALS AND SUCH ALL
OTHER, IN THE CITY OF NAGA, TO SERVE NFA IRON- FORTIFIED RICE (I-RICE) IN
THEIR DAILY OPERATIONS
Sponsor: Hon. Cecilia B. Veluz-De Asis
WHEREAS, in pursuance to Section 6 of Republic Act 8976, otherwise known as the Philippine
Food Fortification Act of 2000, which provides for the mandatory fortification of one of the
staple foods rice, the National Food Authority (NFA) has conducted a simultaneous nationwide
campaign on promoting the regular serving and/or consumption of the Iron-Fortified Rice
known as i-Rice;
WHEREAS, in showing support to this i-Rice Program of NFA, every Local Government Unit
shall initiate concrete plans, especially on the dissemination and promotion of i-Rice in the
community, which eventually help to vigorously address the problem of micronutrient
deficiencies to its constituents, especially, but not limited among young children, pregnant
women and nursing mothers;
WHEREAS, parts of Naga Citys manifestations of support to the program are: (a) to ensure the
consumption of i-Rice in every household; (b) to guarantee the availability of i-Rice in all
accredited retailers; and (c) to make the leeway that i-Rice be served in all establishments
within the city;

NOW THEREFORE, on motion by Hon. Cecilia B. Veluz De Asis, duly seconded by Hon. Alex
C. Nero;
BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to call/request all owners/managers/administrators
of restaurants, eateries, canteens, hotels, hospitals and such all other, in the City of Naga, to
serve NFA i-Rice in their daily operations.
LET COPIES of this resolution be furnished the Office of His Honor, City Mayor John G.
Bongat, for his perusal, the Offices of the Provincial and Regional NFA, all aforementioned
establishments and all other concerned agencies for their information, guidance and favorable
actions.
APPROVED: 2012-214
ADOPTED: April 3, 2012

Full implementation of food fortification law may result in high price of sugar
14 July 2012 09:46:53 AM
Writer: Salvacion T. Beleo, MRS-PRIB
A lawmaker today moved to exclude refined sugar from the coverage of the Philippine Food
Fortification Act saying the implementation of the law would result in the high price of sugar in
the market.
Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st District, Negros Oriental), author of House Bill 6190, said the
fortification of refined sugar entails additional cost to the manufacturer which would result in a
higher market price of the product.
"The implementation of the law will certainly put the product beyond the reach of the
consumers. Fortification will lead to a reduction in supply of refined sugar in the market,"
Limkaichong said.
Limkaichong said fortifying refined sugar with Vitamin A speeds up the discoloration process
and that about six to eight months after fortification the white crystals turn yellowish even if the
refined sugar is placed under normal or dry conditions.
"Repackers and industrial users refuse to purchase the fortified refined sugar because of the
risk of discoloration," Limkaichong said.
"There will be a reduction in the volume of refined sugar available in the market, or worse, the
non-registration or recall of unfortified refined sugar will cause a severe drop in the available
supply in the country," Limkaichong added.
It has been estimated that the cost of fortifying refined sugar with Vitamin A costs P50 per bag
or P1 per kilo of refined sugar - a cost that will have to be passed on to the consumers,
according to Limkaichong.
Citing the Medium-Term Philippine Plan for Action, Limkaichong said only 27.7 percent of
households are using refined sugar, while 46.4 percent use brown sugar.
Limkaichong said majority of the consumers prefer the unfortified sugar in their daily use. "It is
impractical to implement the mandatory fortification of refined sugar because the public will
not patronize it," Limkaichong said.
Republic Act 8976 or the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 provides the mandatory
fortification of certain staple foods with specific nutrients including refined sugar, with vitamin
A. It was signed into law on November 7, 2000.
However, on November 4, 2004 the representatives of the sugar industry, the Department of
Health and the Bureau of Food and Drug have reached a consensus that the mandatory
fortification of refined sugar with Vitamin A is not practical and cannot be implemented.

The Food Fortification Program is the Philippine governments response to the

growing micronutrient malnutrition, which has been prevalent in the country for the
past several years.
Mandate

Republic Act 8976, An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program and
for other purposes mandating fortification of flour, oil and sugar with Vitamin A and
flour and rice with iron by November 7, 2004 and promoting voluntary fortification
through the SPSP, Signed into law on November 7, 2000

There are 139 processed food products with SangkapPinoySeal with 83% with vitamin
A, 29% with iron and 14% with iodine (2008)

37% of the products are snack foods

Most of the products FDA analyzed are within the standard

Based on 2003 NNS Households awareness of SPS- and FF-products is 11% and 14%,
respectively, in 2008 awareness is 11.6%

Although awareness is low, usage of SPS-products is 99.2%

Food fortification is the addition of Sangkap Pinoy or Micronutrient such as vitamin A,

iron and iodine to food, whether or not they are normally contained in the food, for the
purposes of preventing or correcting demonstrated deficiency with one or more
nutrients in the population or specific population groups.
Sangkap Pinoy nutrients or micronutrients are vitamins and minerals required by the
body in very small quantities. These are essential in maintaining a strong, healthy, and
active body and a sharp mind; and, for women, to bear healthy children.
[highlight]November 7 is Food Fortification Day[/highlight]
Objectives

The following are the objectives of the Food Fortification Program:

1. To provide the basis for the need for a food fortification program in the Philippines: The
Micronutrient Malnutrition Problem
2. To discuss various types of food fortification strategies
3. To provide an update on the current situation of food fortification in the Philippines
Vitamin A Supplementation

Vitamin A (Retinol) is an essential micronutrient needed by the body for normal sight,
growth and reproduction.
Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) is a condition characterized by depleted liver stores and low
blood levels of vitamin A due to prolonged insufficient dietary intake of the vitamin
followed by poor absorption or utilization in the body.
VAD affects childrens proper growth, resistance to infection, and chances of
survival (23 to 35% increased child mortality), severe deficiency results to blindness,
night blindness and bitots spot

Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency:

1993, 1998, 2003, 2008
(DOST FNRI, NNS)
Physiological State

1993

1998

2003

2008

6 months 5 yrs.

35.3

38.0

40.1

15.2

Pregnant

16.4

22.2

17.5

9.5

Lactating

16.4

16.5

20.1

6.4

WHO Cut off Point to be considered a public health problem = >15%

Iron Supplementation

Iron an essential mineral and is part of hemoglobin, the red protein in red blood cells
that carries oxygen from the lungs to the cells

Iron Deficiency Anemia condition where there is lack of iron in the body resulting to
low hemoglobin concentration of the blood

IDA results in premature delivery, increased maternal mortality, reduce ability to fight
infection and transmittable diseases and low productivity

Iodine

Iodine -a mineral and a component of the thyroid hormones

Thyroid hormones needed for the brain and nervous system to develop & function
normally

Iodine Deficiency Disorders refers to a group of clinical entities caused by

inadequacy of dietary iodine for the thyroid hormone resulting into various condition e.g.
goiter, cretinism, mental retardation, loss of IQ points

Progress in the Philippines towards the Elimination of IDD, 1998-2008

Achievements
Indicator

Goal*
1998 2003 2008

Proportion of Households using Iodized Salt, %

>90

9.7

56.0

81.1

6-12 yrs.

100-200

71

201

132

Lactating Women

100-200

111

81

Pregnant Women

150-249

142

105

Proportion < 50g/L, %

< 20

6-12 yrs.

35.8

11.4

19.7

Lactating Women

23.7

34.0

Pregnant Women

18.0

25.8

Median Urinary Iodine, ug/L

*ICC-IDD 2007

Reference
1. Food Fortification Program via Department of Health Website
(http://nurseslabs.com/food-fortification-program/)

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. Jt. Res. No. 13

JOINT RESOLUTION DEFERRING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MANDATORY FOOD

FORTIFICATION OF REFINED SUGAR WITH VITAMIN A AS REQUIRED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8976,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FOOD FORTIFICATION ACT OF 2000 UNTIL THE
NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL (NNC) HAS DETERMINED WHETHER IT IS STILL NECESSARY OR
NOT