Filipino households waste P23M rice/day

EVERY Filipino wastes three tablespoons of rice every day, adding up to at least P23 million worth of daily wastage—so reveals a survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Further analysis of the data shows that if such wastage can be turned into savings, the country could save P9.6 billion from rice importation and feed 4.3 million hungry Filipinos in a year.

“We are seeking the support of the youth in helping relay the message of rice conservation as their population, around 21 million, is a strong force in engaging other sectors in the society to conserve rice,” Ella Lois T. Bestil, campaign coordinator, said.

The forum, which will also be conducted in universities in the Visayas and Mindanao, further highlighted the nutritional aspects of eating the right amount of rice for better health.

Rice-based diet
“Filipinos eat way too much rice, thus restricting their energy source also to rice,” Joy Bartolome Duldulao of PhilRice’s Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division said.

Duldulao meanwhile said that in an ideal meal, grains like rice should occupy only + of a dining plate. Half the plate should be fruits and vegetables, and the rest should be proteins. She added that Filipinos should also try to diversify their diets to include good carbohydrates other than rice.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said a student forum was conducted recently to determine how to the country can become rice self-sufficient by 2013.

During the forum, more than 500 students and university professors in Naga City pledged to conserve rice as part of the “Save Rice, Save Lives” program of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

The CBCP said the forum was the first of a three-part university forum series being conducted by the PhilRice as part of the celebration of the National Rice Awareness Month in November.

PhilRice, a government-owned and –controlled corporation under the Department of Agriculture partnered with the Ateneo de Naga Economics Society for the event.

According to the “Save Rice, Save Lives” website, the movement encourages people to eat the right amount of rice, no leftovers.

“If you finish all the rice on your plate, you will do your country a great favor in its quest for rice self-sufficiency,” the site said.

In addition, the Save Rice, Save Lives Movement is engaging the city government of Naga in this campaign. Some policies on rice conservation and activities for the National Rice Awareness Month this November are in the pipeline. –NEIL A. ALCOBER CORRESPONDENT, Manila Times