ILOILO City – To minimize food wastage, Congress is considering reviving a bill proposed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during his tenure as a senator in the 16th Congress.
The bill seeks to impose fines ranging from P20,000 to P100,000 on restaurants, hotels, inns, canteens, and similar establishments that refuse a customer’s request for less than a cup of rice.
In Iloilo City, eateries are prepared to comply with this potential law.
Sixty-one-year-old Reynalda Bucana who has been running an eatery for over 20 years said she has no problem with the government enforcing the half-cup rice policy.
Half-cup rice has been available at her eatery for a long time. Currently, she sells a cup of rice for P10 and a half-cup for P5.
Bucana observed that some customers cannot finish a full cup of rice and therefore request half-cup servings, which she gladly provides.
She believes the bill would be beneficial for customers as it ensures that the rice is consumed and not wasted.
“Some people do buy half-cup rice, and I don’t mind because it’s a waste if it’s not eaten,” Bucana told Panay News.
She noted that over the 20 years since she started her eatery, a significant amount of rice has been wasted by customers.
“There are always leftovers; it’s unavoidable,” she lamented.
Alias Melanie, who manages an eatery in Barangay Fort San Pedro, City Proper, said half-cup rice has long been available at their eatery.
“Some customers can’t finish a full cup,” Melanie explained.
Michelle Ferrer, another eatery owner in Iloilo City, is in favor of the proposed bill, especially since rice is expensive.
“We do serve it because we have to, as our customers are mostly poor workers,” Ferrer said.
However, she admitted feeling frustrated at times.
“It’s sad because people are okay paying P30 for rice at a restaurant, but they complain when they buy from us,” Ferrer added.
Josephine Lijano, also an eatery owner, believes having half-cup rice available at all eateries and restaurants is advantageous to many customers.
“In carenderias like ours it’s available but in restaurants there is no such option because their servings are pre-measured,” Lijano said.
She also believes serving half-cup rice is a way to show appreciation for the farmers who toil in the heat to produce rice.
Lijano’s eatery uses half a sack of rice daily, but she acknowledged that a lot of it ends up as waste because not all customers finish their servings.
“It’s such a waste, and sometimes you feel sorry for our farmers,” Lijano added.
Given the high price of rice and the low harvest yield, Lijano suggests that everyone should save rice during these times.
Teresita Madiclum, another carinderia owner, thinks it would be great if all eateries and restaurants supported the bill.
“We do sell half-cup rice. We have a measuring cup,” Madiclum said.
She doesn’t feel at a loss selling half-cup rice and do not force customers to take a full cup if they can only eat half.
Panay News reached out to the Iloilo Hotel Restaurants & Resorts Association (IHRRA), but as of now, they have not gathered sentiments from their members about the proposed bill.
House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin, Iloilo 1st District congresswoman, announced the likely revival of Senate Bill No. 1863, filed by then-Senator Marcos.
In a statement, Garin said, “The bill on serving half-cup rice in restaurants nationwide shall be revived and passed in Congress to minimize food waste, promote balanced and sustainable eating habits and ensure healthier meal portions.”
The bill was mentioned last week by officials of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) under the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Officials noted that a Filipino wastes an average of three tablespoons or nine grams of rice daily and were seeking the bill’s revival to prevent rice wastage.
So far, 46 local government units have ordinances regarding the sale of half-cup rice. (With a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)/PN
