Pinoys waste P23-M worth of rice everyday – PhilRice

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) together with the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija had committed to intensify rice conservation over the weekend. The commitment was made as a survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology shows that each Filipino wastes three tablespoons of rice everyday, which convert to at least P23-million worth of daily rice wastage.

The rice conservation commitment states, “I shall continually find and practice ways to save every grain of rice as my way of helping my country reach rice self-sufficiency. I shall keep this pledge in my heart and mind at all times, knowing that with the rice I save, lives are saved.”

Urging the rice stakeholders to take simple steps in supporting the country’s bid to rice-self sufficiency by 2013, Ronilo Beronio, PhilRice executive director, said import savings from rice can reach P10 billion should Filipinos be dutiful in conserving rice.

Rice consumers were urged to cook rice properly, to avoid undercooked or burned rice; recycle leftover rice into other dishes and will only order or cook rice that is enough to be consumed for every serving.

For the farmers’ part, they were discouraged to dry palay (whisked rice) on public roads and highways—as this will lower the quality of the grains; and encouraged to plant only the right amount of seeds and ensure safe storage and sanitation of grains to avoid infestation.

Complementing the cause, PhilRice soft-launched its Save Rice, Save Lives Campaign through the unveiling of a billboard that banners, “Ang bawat butil ng palay, bawat butil ng bigas, bawat butil ng kanin ay mahalaga. Sila ay nagbibigay buhay at hindi dapat sayangin [Every rice grain counts. Rice is life. Conserve it].”

Beronio said it is important to provide rice specialists and rice sufficiency officers with courseware, enabling them to perform their work in their areas of assignments with minimal participation from subject matter specialists (SMS).

“Public service should not be limited by the unavailability of SMS, and knowledge about rice technologies must reach more extension workers and farmers,” Beronio added. –RAADEE S. SAUSA, Manila Times