The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) is advocating for the enforcement of a city ordinance that requires food establishments to offer half-cup rice servings. This initiative aims to reduce food wastage and promote healthier eating habits.
Lawyer Jennilyn Dawayan, DA-CAR regional director, stated on Wednesday that this measure is a practical approach to address rice wastage, noting that a significant portion of post-harvest rice losses originates from the food service industry. “Gusto ko yan, much of post-harvest losses are from restaurants (I like it because much of the post-harvest losses are from restaurants),” she remarked in a message to the Philippine News Agency.
Dawayan expressed hope that the city government will strictly implement Ordinance 16-17, which was passed in 2017. This ordinance mandates all food establishments in Baguio to offer a half-cup rice option priced at half the cost of a regular serving. Non-compliance could result in penalties ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP5,000, with potential cancellation of business permits after the third offense.
Data from PhilRice indicates that rice wastage in households decreased to 255,000 metric tons in 2019 from 340,000 in 2009. However, these figures do not account for losses in restaurants, which may increase the overall wastage.
Supporters of the measure, such as 72-year-old Antonio Domesag, emphasize its health benefits. “I only eat a few spoonfuls of rice. It’s for my health—and for the farmers who grow it,” he stated.