The Department of Agriculture (DA) is encouraging Filipinos to practice responsible rice consumption, including by promoting half-cup servings, as losses due to wastage reach more than ₱24 billion per year.

“If every Filipino does a little, the country gains a lot, from less waste and healthier diets to stronger farmers and a more secure food supply,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel in a statement.

Tiu Laurel said the DA is pushing consumers to participate in the year-round implementation of the Be RICEponsible program led by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

Launched in 2014, the program was initially observed in November but has since been expanded to the entire year as it looks to promote the prevention of rice wastage beyond a single month.

PhilRice estimates that every Filipino throws away about two tablespoons of cooked rice daily, which is equivalent to 10.85 million sacks of rice worth ₱24.4 billion a year.

The agency said the discarded rice could have fed around 5.17 million Filipinos for an entire year.

Tiu Laurel said this makes it crucial for responsible rice consumption to become an everyday practice, especially since the household staple plays a crucial role in national food security.

“Every grain of rice carries the work of a Filipino farmer. When we waste less, choose wisely, and support locally produced rice, we strengthen not only our farmers’ livelihoods but also our country’s food security,” he said.

Agriculture Undersecretary Christopher Morales said making responsible consumption a daily discipline would also help strengthen the country’s rice supply, as the government’s efforts to improve production would not literally go to waste.

“Every grain saved from waste effectively adds to the food available to our people without requiring additional land, water, inputs, or production costs,” he said.

As part of the government’s efforts to minimize rice wastage, PhilRice is also seeking to revive efforts to push for a measure requiring restaurants to offer half-cup servings of rice.

The DA said this is expected to “help diners avoid taking more than they can eat,” further promoting responsible rice consumption and reducing wastage.

Further, the DA is urging consumers to buy locally produced rice to support Filipino farmers and help strengthen domestic supply.

“Healthier choices are another focus, with the campaign promoting brown, pigmented, low-glycemic index, and high-zinc rice, along with rice mixes using corn, saba, camote, and adlai,” it said.