BACOLOD City – Now, anybody here can order half a serving of rice from any food-serving establishment.
Establishments that refuse to take such order are in danger of being punished, under a new city ordinance that aims to prevent rice wastage and consequently, rice shortage. Approved unanimously during Wednesday’s session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the ordinance covers fast food chains, restaurants, hotels, pension houses, inns, canteens, steakhouses, eateries, and all other food-serving businesses. Councilor Elcid Familiaran, ordinance proponent, said even popular fast food chains here are covered such as McDonald’s, Jollibee and KFC, among others. Violators of the ordinance will be fined – P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second violation, P3,000 for the third offense and P4,000 for the fourth and succeeding violations. The ordinance, however, does not apply to buffets, catering services, the so-called “value meals” and similar package orders. The city council was prompted to craft the ordinance following an International Rice Research Institute report that the Philippines wastes at least P23-million worth of rice per day or P8-billion worth of rice a year. The Department of Agriculture has been campaigning that consumers reduce rice wastage to help the country achieve rice self-sufficiency status. The country’s rice wastage reached 300,000 metric tons a year, according to Agriculture assistant secretary Edilberto de Luna. The volume of rice going to waste is enough to feed the entire country for about 10 days, de Luna said. For his part, Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala urged consumers to diversify their diet to ease the pressure on the rice sector. He suggested consuming white corn, banana and root crops such as cassava and sweet potato./PN BY MAE SINGUAY Panay News December 5, 2014
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