LOCAL government units (LGUs) could provide the spaces; the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) could handle beneficiary validation; and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) could extend tax incentives to encourage private donations.
And yes, those incentives are already in place. The National Internal Revenue Code (Section 34H) allows deductions for donations made to accredited donee institutions.
BIR Revenue Regulation 13-98 and Republic Act 8424 further grant donor’s tax exemptions, provided the recipient is certified by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC). That means companies donating food — or even logistics support — can legally reduce their tax liabilities while feeding the hungry.
The private sector should see this not just as corporate social responsibility, but as corporate moral responsibility. After all, how can any business thrive in a society where millions of customers are too hungry to buy?
But sustainability is key. We must go beyond “relief” and integrate livelihood programs — for example, partnering with local farmers and fisherfolk through the Sagip Saka Act of 2018 (RA 11321). Instead of dumping imported goods, food banks could buy or barter surplus harvests from Filipino producers, ensuring both supply stability and local income.
The success of the Regina model lies not only in its shelves but in its spirit. It redefines charity as empowerment. It turns dependence into participation. It normalizes compassion.
Why not try this at the barangay level? Imagine every municipality having at least one “community food hub” — part grocery, part food waste recycler, part training center for nutrition and sustainability. LGUs could partner with supermarkets for surplus recovery, tech startups for inventory systems, and local volunteers for daily operations.
During the pandemic, we proved we can feed each other without waiting for bureaucrats. Why not sustain that same bayanihan energy now, in more structured and lasting ways?
Hunger is not an emergency we respond to once a year — it’s a disaster we must fight every day.
As the Americans say, this Canadian invention might just be “the greatest thing since sliced bread.” But I’ll add my own twist: maybe the greatest thing since sliced bread… is sharing it fairly.
If we can turn leaves into paper bags, plastic into school chairs, and waste into resources, then surely we can turn compassion into food — and food into hope./PN
