Urging Filipino consumers to waste less and support local farmers, on top of choosing healthier rice options.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are pushing Be RICEponsible campaign year-round, in their bid to combat rice wastage to Filipino dining tables, urge consumers to waste less, support local farmers, and choose healthier rice.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that responsible rice consumption should become an everyday practice, especially that the grain is considered a staple in Filipino households and vital to 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.
Originally launched in 2014 as a legacy program of the 2013 National Year of Rice, Be RICEponsible was initially observed in November.
However, PhilRice has since made it a year-round advocacy, with Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Christopher Morales noting that the shift reflects the need to make responsible consumption a daily discipline rather than a mere seasonal reminder.
“Increasing production and reducing postharvest losses are critical to strengthening our rice supply, but these efforts will not be enough if we continue to waste what we already have on our plates,” said Morales. “Disciplined consumption is just as important. Every grain saved from waste effectively adds to the food available to our people without requiring additional land, water, inputs, or production costs.”
Moreover, the DA is also urging consumers to buy locally produced rice, including PhilGAP-certified products, to support Filipino farmers and help strengthen domestic supply.
Healthier options are also being highlighted by the said campaign, which also promotes types and varieties like brown, pigmented, low-glycemic index, and high-zinc rice, along with rice mixes using corn, saba, camote, and adlai—all providing more fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
PhilRice and its partners will also bring the campaign to schools, communities, markets, workplaces, terminals, and other high-traffic areas through information drives, food-tasting activities, exhibits, social media, and public events.
HALF-CUP RICE
The campaign also seeks to revive the Half-Cup Rice Ordinance in participating areas, encouraging restaurants to offer smaller servings to help diners avoid taking more than they can eat.
“Riceponsibility starts with something as simple as taking only what we can finish,” Tiu Laurel said. “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.”
The “half-cup rice” initiative was introduced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2023 and sought to reduce waste and diversify meals.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals aim to halve global food waste by 2030.
THE SCALE OF WASTAGE
According to estimates by PhilRice in 2024, every Filipino throws away about two tablespoons of cooked rice daily and that is equivalent to 10.85 million sacks of rice worth PHP24.4 billion a year.
That same amount of rice could also feed about 5.17 million Filipinos for an entire year, underscoring the potential food security gains from simply putting less rice in the trash.
According to a 2018-2019 Food and Nutrition Research Institute survey, the average Filipino household wastes 53 grams of cooked rice daily, equivalent to 6.4 grams of uncooked rice per person. That number has not yet included wastage from restaurants and other establishments, making the total potentially higher.
Although, another data set from PhilRice also showed that household rice wastage decreased to 255,000 metric tons in 2019 from 340,000 metric tons in 2009.
“This progress is encouraging, but the numbers remain alarming,” said Sec. Tiu Laurel back in 2024. “Imagine, the rice we waste in a year is enough to sustain millions of families. This highlights the need to revisit the ‘half-cup rice’ proposal to encourage more responsible consumption.”
Meanwhile, rice overconsumption has also been linked to the rising prevalence of diabetes in the Philippines.
In 2021, one in 14 Filipinos had diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation, with ghet country’s white rice-heavy diet cited as a major factor.
