BACOLOD CITY, (PNA) –The National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental has urged local government units in the province to pass an ordinance requiring food establishments to include “half rice” serving their menu.
Procopio Trabajo III, provincial manager of NFA-Negros Occidental, said they received a directive from their central office and from the Department of Agriculture to request LGUs to pass such legislative measure.
“We can see that in many restaurants, some customers don’t finish the rice they ordered,” Trabajo said.
This measure is aimed at reducing rice wastage in the country and also for those who are required to eat less rice due to health reasons, he said.
However, the Hotel and Restaurants Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO) had expressed opposition to the measure, saying that it will not solve the problem of rice wastage.
Trabajo said he is willing to meet with HRANO officials to know the reasons for their opposition.
Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sponsored Senate Bill 1863, or the “Anti-Rice Wastage Act of 2013,” seeking to impose fines on establishments which refuse to serve half-cup rice orders.
Studies presented by the bill’s proponents show that Filipinos waste three teaspoons of rice every day.
Under the Senate bill, establishments refusing to serve half-cup rice orders will be slapped with a fine of P20,000 for the first offense, P50,000 for the second offense, and P100,000 for the third offense.