Filipinos waste P7 million worth of rice that can feed 2.5 million each year, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) said on Thursday, Nov. 9, as it lamented the problem of rice wastage in the country.

(File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN)

“It’s actually two tablespoons of rice (are) wasted by every person daily. That would be costing P7 million for a year, which could feed 2.5 million Filipinos sana kaysa na-waste (instead of going to waste),” DA-PhilRice Deputy Executive Director Dr. Karen Eloisa Barroga said during a Palace press briefing.

To expound, DA-PhilRice Development Communication Division Head Dr. Hazel Antonio explained that each Filipino wastes 10 grams of rice, which totals almost 384,000 metric tons per year.

Barroga lamented that rice wastage is born out of Filipinos’ “takaw mata” mentality, especially during feasts and celebrations.

“Takaw mata” is a colloquial term used to described persons who get too much food on their plates because the food looks appetizing.

“Ano ba napapansin natin pag may fiesta? Marami kasi iyong sabi nga natin takaw mata (What do we notice when there’s a fiesta? A lot is doing of what we call ‘takaw mata’). So, actually the campaign says, ‘get only what you need,’” she said.

The official was referring to PhilRice’s “Be RICEponsible” campaign, which advocates for the consumption of heathy rice and the avoidance of rice wastage.

She stressed the need for PhilRice to “create awareness” by providing data that can guide businesses on how they can prevent rice wastage.

Noting that there are 46 local ordinances for a half-a-cup serving in restaurants, Antonio revealed plans to revive Senate Bill 1863, or the "Anti-Rice Wastage Act of 2013," a bill filed by then-senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2013 seeking to impose fines on establishments that refuse to serve half-cup rice orders.

The official said that a law mandating the default serving of half-a-cup of rice in restaurants would standardize the practice, though both officials understand that the policy cannot be applied to all Filipinos, especially those working in labor-intensive sectors.

In which case, Barroga added it should be up to the consumers how much rice to order and finish.