More Food Adventures: Ordinance No. 12685: The Half-cup Rice Ordinance

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Food establishments in Cagayan de Oro are now required to serve half cup of rice to avoid rice wastage. Data released earlier this year by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI – DOST), reported that each Filipino wastes an average of 3.29 kilograms of rice every year. The rice wastage in 2008 amounted to 296, 869 metric tons (MT) which is equivalent to 12.2 percent of the rice import that same year. Said loss amounted to about P7.3 billion, which could have fed around two million Filipinos. An innovative solution is necessary to minimize wastage, that will be a great help to boost the Philippine food security. Addressing this concern at the local level, City Councilor Annie Daba authored Ordinance No. 12685, known as the Half-cup Rice Ordinance of Cagayan de Oro City, to encourage the responsible consumption of rice as embodied in the Presidential Proclamation No. 494 by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. The ordinance mandates that “all food establishments including restaurants, cafeterias, caterers, fast-food chains and other related food services in Cagayan de Oro City to include one-half cup serving of rice in their menu with the corresponding one-half price as an option for the public customers. This ordinance was enacted last November 2013, and the memorandum is currently being distributed to restaurants, canteens, caterers, fast food chains and hotels. By August, food establishments are expected to have the full implementation of the half-cup rice servings on their menu.

Violating the said ordinance shall have its consequences. The fine for those violating the said ordinance will be set at P1,000 and P2,000 for the first and second offenses, respectively. For the third time offender, penalty of P3,000 fine and the cancellation of their business permit. Succeeding offenses by food establishments will cause the filing of an appropriate case in court with a fine of P3,000 to P5,000 or an imprisonment of one day to twelve months.