Rice is so much a part of the Filipino way of life that any shortage, any price increase, any report at all on this national food staple is a matter of great concern to us all.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) announced they have now tested 766 varieties in a search for rice which have higher yield, are more climate-resilient, are more resistant to pests and diseases, and are more resistant to drought, floods, and other hostile environments. Of the total varieties tested, 206 were bred by Philrice and 488 by IRRI. The goal is to find rice varieties which can best withstand multiple stresses in the Philippines for planting by our farmers.

But the rice news in the country this week was dominated by the more distressing finding that fake or synthetic rice has been discovered in Philippine markets, possibly imported or smuggled from China or Singapore, or maybe even produced right here in this country.

The fake rice is reportedly made from potatoes and camote, mixed with raw material used in making plastic products, then shaped to look like rice grains. The plastic resin will ultimately affect the human digestive system; some reports from some Asian countries cited cases of gastritis and other diseases. The fake rice is said to be mixed with real rice so it is difficult to detect.

Sen. Francis Escudero has proposed the immediate convening of the Food Safety Regulation Coordinating Board to act on the danger posed by synthetic rice. The board is charged with implementing Republic Act 10611, the Food Safety Act of 2013. Is a system in place that will detect dirty food anywhere in the country? he asked. Is there a way to stop such food from entering the country through our ports?

Fake rice will have a market in our country if we don’t have enough supply of the real thing. We have the resources to be self-sufficient in rice – we have the land, weather, and now new high-yielding, and drought, flood, and disease-resistant rice varieties from Philrice and IRRI.

Our immediate problem of food safety because of the presence of synthetic rice must be acted upon swiftly before many of our people fall ill. But ultimately, we must look at the bigger problem of rice production in our country. If Vietnam and Thailand can produce so much for massive exports, we should be able to produce enough for our own people’s consumption.

Manila Bulletin