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[av_heading heading=’Half-cup rice option supports nat’l gov’t’s rice sufficiency program ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Aside from giving customers options, the proposed ordinance requiring food establishments to offer half-cup rice servings supports the rice sufficiency campaign of the national government, according to proponent Councilor Ely Estante.
The “Be RICEponsible” program of the Department of Agriculture and Philippine Rice Research Institute encourages farmers, policymakers and the public to do their part in helping the country achieve rice self-sufficiency by reducing food wastage.
Estante is the chairperson of the city council’s committee on agriculture. His proposed ordinance also cited a 2008 study of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute that every Filipino wastes an average of two tablespoons of cooked rice or nine grams of uncooked rice daily.
According to Estante, this was equivalent to 12 percent of imported rice that year costing P7.27 billion.
Such volume of wasted rice could already feed 2.5 million Filipinos for a year, he said.
Foodservice establishments will be given three months to comply from the time the proposed ordinance is approved, said Estante.
The City Health Office will be tasked to enforce the ordinance.
Violating foodservice establishments will face penalties – warning for the first offense; P3,000 fine for the second offense; P5,000 fine for the third offense; P5,000 fine for the fourth offense; and cancellation of the business permit for every month of continued non-compliance for the fifth offense.
During Wednesday’s public hearing on the proposed ordinance, Estante said two popular fast-food chains – Jollibee and Chowking – expressed willingness to comply.
Estante said one cup of rice is equivalent to 160 grams while the one-half cup is equivalent to 80 grams./PN
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