ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- The city government here is heeding the call of
the Department of Agriculture (DA) to avoid rice wastage with the proposed
enactment of an ordinance requiring food establishments to offer a serving of
half-cup rice.
Councilor Ely Estante, chair of the committee on agriculture of the
Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), on Friday said that he would try to pass on first
reading the proposed ordinance during their regular session on Tuesday next
week.
Estante met with Myriam G. Layaoen, director of the Be RiCEponsible of
DA, on June 15 where the latter urged the city government to sponsor an
ordinance that would help lessen rice wastage.
He revealed that based on a study, nine grams or almost two teaspoons
of rice were wasted by every Filipino daily in 2008. The amount is equivalent
to the food of almost 2.5 million Filipinos annually, which is more than 12
percent of the country’s rice import on the same year.
The councilor also made a survey of some 175 food establishments
excluding hotels in this city where 43 of the respondents were not serving
half-cup rice.
Estante said that his proposed ordinance would cover food establishments
as well as fast food chain.
He proposed that violators would be warned during first offense;
PHP3,000 fine for second offense; third offense is PHP5,000 and the revocation
of business permit as the highest penalty.
Once passed, Iloilo City would join more than 18 cities in the country
with half-cup rice ordinance. (Perla G. Lena/PNA)-posted by by Becky D. de Asis - The Redline News Philippines)
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