House pushes revival of half-cup rice bill

Image made from file photos from the Facebook page of PhilRice

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin on Monday announced the likely revival of a draft measure filed by then-Senator and now-President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that would penalize restaurants nationwide for refusing a customer’s request to be served less than a cup or a half-cup of rice.

Garin, who represents the First District of Iloilo, also highlighted the value to both consumers and farmers of offering sweet potatoes on the restaurant menus.

In a statement, Garin said: “The bill on serving half-cup rice in restaurants nationwide shall be revived and passed in Congress to minimize food waste, promote balanced and sustainable eating habits and ensuring healthier meal portions.”

The measure, Senate Bill No. 1863, was filed by Marcos when he was a senator in the 16th Congress. The draft law seeks to penalize with P20,000 to P100,000 in fines restaurants, hotels, inns, canteens, and other similar establishments for refusing a customer’s request to be served less than a cup of rice.

READ: DA-PhilRice execs push for revival of ‘half-cup-rice’ rule

READ: Half-cup rice bill pushed

The bill was mentioned last week by officials of the Philippine Rice Research Institute under the Department of Agriculture. The officials said they were seeking its revival to prevent rice wastage, noting that a Filipino wastes an average of 3 tablespoons or 9 grams of rice daily.

“Restaurant owners should also opt for sweet potato fries over regular potato fries not only to add a flavorful twist to meals but also to enhance nutritional value,” Garin said.

She explained that sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin A and fiber. “Making this simple switch aligns with the growing emphasis on healthier food choices in the dining industry,” she said.

“This increased reliance on sweet potatoes will likely bolster local farmers’ livelihoods and contribute to the growth of sustainable agriculture within the community,” the deputy majority leader said, adding that it was high time it was implemented.