DA backs reviving ‘half-cup of rice’ plan

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) supported the revival of the “half-cup of rice” plan in dining places to reduce wastage.

The Food and Nutrition Research Institute found that households wasted 53 grams of cooked rice daily in 2018 to 2019. Based on this data, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said 255,000 metric tons (MT) of rice go to waste annually.

That number is already much lower than the 340,000 MT in 2009, though this latest amount could already feed 2.79 million people in a year, according to PhilRice.

“This progress is encouraging, but the numbers remain alarming,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

“Imagine, the rice we waste in a year is enough to sustain millions of families. This highlights the need to revisit the ‘half-cup rice’ proposal to encourage more responsible consumption,” he added.

A government entity attached to the Agriculture Department, PhilRice has called for a “half-cup of rice” campaign to protect consumers and their health, as well as farmer livelihood.

Hazel Antonio Beltran, PhilRice development and communication division head, said only 47 local ordinances instruct businesses to offer half-cup of rice servings.

“Gusto talaga namin sana siya maging national para anywhere you go, you know pwede ka maka-order ng half at dapat ma-half din or close to half ang presyo no’n,” Beltran said.

[Translation: We want to make it a national policy so that anywhere you go, you know you can order a half-cup and the price should also be halved or close to half of the price.]

The agency suggested imposing penalties of from P3,000 to P10,000 to non-compliant restaurants, eateries, and canteens, among others.

Pending a law, Beltran said the PhilRice has sought for an executive order to direct government agencies to provide an option of half-cup of rice.

It was pitched to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through the Private Sector Advisory Council. Beltran said Marcos was the first to file a bill for “half-cup rice” in 2013 when he was senator.

“Kapag nakita namin na significant ‘yong effect no’n sa wastage at nabawasan talaga yong wastage sa ating mga government offices, that’s the time that we will recommend it to the private sector as well,” Beltran said.

[Translation: Once we see that the policy has a significant effect on wastage, and the wastage in government offices is lessende, that’s the time that we will recommend it to the private sector as well.]