Mayor Alvarez (2nd from left) listens as Dr. Rasco, PhilRice executive director (2nd from right) discusses the ‘RICEponsbile’ campaign. At right is campaign director Antonio.
SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ – This city, the only science city in the country, has committed itself to become a model for “RICEponsible” in practice and advocacy. In a motorcade held recently, Mayor Nestor Alvarez called on his constituents to rally behind the campaign for being “rice responsible,” or a city that has high appreciation and following the proper way in consuming rice.
“Our city is a leader when it comes to advocacy that’s why I am encouraging all my constituents to practice responsible rice handling and consumption all the time to minimize wastage and to contribute to our country’s drive to be self-sufficient in rice,” Alvarez said.
The motorcade was participated in by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Phil- Rice), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), Philippine Center for Post- Harvest Development and Mechanization (Phil- Mech), Phil-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilScat) and Central Luzon State University (CLSU).
Coordinated by Phil- Rice, the “RICEponsible” advocacy is a takeoff from the National Year of Rice observance last year. This new campaign is to heighten participation of various sectors to promote the call for every Filipino to be “rice responsible”.
The call, according to Hazel Antonio, Phil- Rice’s RICEponsible Campaign director, appeals to all rice consumers not to waste rice, to eat brown rice and other staples, and to value the fruits of labor of the farmers. In last year’s observance of the Year of Rice, PhilRice noted the huge losses in rice due to wastage in consumption, overconsumption, and improper handling of the palay harvest.
The average consumption of rice per day totals to four and a half cups for the middle class group and more for those in the lower class, the agency said. “The ideal is only one cup per meal, or better still, one-half cup,” Antonio said.
The main target for lesser consumption of rice are those in the middle class, especially those doing sedentary works in offices and in other kinds of works not requiring much physical activities, she said.
Admittedly, it was pointed out, it will be difficult to convince heavy workers, like those in the farm sector, to convince them to eat less rice because they need more of this stuff to power their body for work. But, the farmers should be made aware of the campaign to minimize losses in their palay harvest.
Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr., PhilRice executive director, said earlier that per survey conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), the per capita consumption of rice by Filipinos had risen to 119.08 kg per year from 105.71 kg in 2000, 109 kg in 2005 and 115 kg in 2005.
If it is any consolation, this per capita rice consumption in the country is smaller compared to Myanmar’s 195 kg and Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s 160 kg, according to the statistics released by the Asia Rice Foundation. Compared, however, to the people of neighboring countries, the Filipinos are eating more rice.
Based on studies, South Korea’s per capita rice consumption per year in 2006 was 78.8 kg then 76.9 kg in 2007, Japan, 61 kg in 2006 and Taiwan,48 kg. Rasco, citing findings of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) in 2008, said rice wastage by Filipinos was two spoonfuls, or nine grams, every day.
Taken together, they were worth P6.2 billion, or P27 million a day. The wastage was in the form of left-over, careless handling before cooking the rice, and improper storage, he added.
The renewed campaign on being rice responsible, targets the producers, who are the farmers, the consumers, which is the public, and the policy makers who, like local government unit officials, can pass ordinances for their constituent’s guidance in appreciating rice correctly.
Alvarez said he has recommended to the city council here to pass an ordinance requiring the food service industry within the city to include one-half cup cooked rice in their menu and to make it the default serving of rice.
He said he will be conducting seminars that will inspire all his constituencies here to be “rice responsible.” The city will also put up posters to dramatize further the call for adherence to the intent of the campaign.
Rasco said other cities and towns, including provinces, will be encouraged to follow the example set here by the local city government in support of the “RICEponsible” campaign.
