Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral and Mr. Charles E. McJilton, chief executive officer, Second Harvest-Japan, seal their partnership for the establishment of food banking in the Philippines.  Also in photo is DSWD Undersecretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco.  

The Department of Social Welfare and Development recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Second Harvest-Japan (2HJ) for the establishment of food banking in the Philippines. 

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral and Mr. Charles E. McJilton, chief executive officer, Second Harvest-Japan signed the agreement at the DSWD-National Capital Region Office in Legarda, Manila.  

Under this MoU, the 2HJ shall ship food items from Japan to the Philippines for the use of poor Filipinos.  It shall also ensure the safety, nutritional quality and compliance with the sanitary standards of the food donations from Japan by securing and submitting to the DSWD the required certifications from appropriate agencies such as the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).  Likewise, 2HJ will strictly comply with the requirement that all food items to be brought to the Philippines should have an expiration date of at least one year. 

On the other hand, the DSWD shall secure the necessary duty-free and other tax exemptions allowable for the entry of the food donations of 2HJ as well as the efficient and effective distribution of the food items to the beneficiaries.  
Food banking is an alternative to throwing away and wasting food products that are safe for human consumption but cannot be sold for one reason or another.   Stores, food manufacturers and importers all face problems of having food that must be disposed of. Food banking works by acquiring donated food, much of which would otherwise be wasted, and makes it available to people who are hungry through a network of agencies.

According to Secretary Cabral, this undertaking is expected to have a substantial impact on poor Filipino families especially those who are victims of disasters and calamities.                  

The 2HJ is a duly registered, non-stock and non-profit organization established in Japan in 2002.   As a member of the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), 2HJ will develop a food banking system in the Philippines in coordination with the DSWD.

Secretary Cabral assured the public that all donated goods received and distributed by the DSWD are safe for human consumption. ### December 3, 2009 (Social Marketing Service)