‘Half-rice’ soon to be part of menus in QC eateries

Good news for weight- and budget-conscious customers when dining in Quezon City: a half-cup serving of rice or "half-rice" may soon be part of the menu.

This was after the Quezon City council approved on third and final reading a proposed measure to require establishments in the city to offer "half-rice."

Once the ordinance goes into effect, establishments cannot decline customers' orders for half rice, according to a report by GMA News' Pia Arcangel on "Saksi" Thursday night.



But this would not be the first time half-rice would be on the menu. In 2008, fast food chains had offered half-rice in response to the government's call to conserve rice.

The "Saksi" report cited data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute indicating each Filipino may have wasted as much as three kilos of rice a year.

This is equivalent to three spoonfuls of rice a day – or a whopping P8 billion a year. On the other hand, the move appears timely, as it came amid a hike in prices of rice.

In an interview on dzBB radio last week, National Food Authority spokesman Rex Estoperez said prices of rice had gone up by about P2 per kilo, but added prices may normalize in September when farmers start harvesting the commodity.

Mayor backs ordinance

City Mayor Herbert Bautista said he agrees with the ordinance since it will give diners an option, and would help minimize rice wastage.

"Payag ako sa ordinansang yan na mag-order ng half-rice para may option pang isa ang mga kakain, at the same time walang masasayang na pagkain. Makatutulong na sa kalusugan, makakatulong pa sa ekonomiya," he said.

Some restaurant owners were also in favor of the move, saying it will reduce their costs especially on rice.

But some owners of "pares" eateries who already offer "small" servings of rice may incur added costs.

'Rice-ponsible' drive

An article on the Philippine Rice Research Institute noted the half-rice option is already in effect in other parts of the country.

It said towns in Aklan, La Union, Bohol, and Ilocos Norte had passed the “half-rice cup” ordinance.

Quoting Edwin Ramos of Aklan's Philippine Information Agency, it said students benefited from the half-cup ordinance as it means savings of P25 a week.

Also, it said the Quezon City council had approved a resolution urging major fast-food chains and restaurants to include brown rice servings.  — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News