PhilRice heightened its BeRICEponsible advocacy during the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) conducted every November to encourage the public practice the “ABKD” of rice consumption.
To “Be RICEponsible,” Filipinos are encouraged to follow the “ABKD”: A – Adlay, mais, saba, atbp. ay ihalo sa kanin (Mix rice with other food staples), B – Brown rice ay kainin (Eat brown rice or unpolished rice), K – Kanin ay huwag sayangin (Eat what we can consume), D – Dapat bigas ng Pilipinas ang bilhin (Patronize locally-produced rice). These were disseminated through online contests such as Pinasarap na Kanin, Brown Rice Challenge, Iwas Aksaya, and “Be Riceponsible” Buyer Challenge. Teresa de Leon, won the Pinasarap na Kanin cooking contest; Deodolino Quito, Iwas Aksaya video contest; and April Rose Melicado, Brown Rice Challenge.
As the country observes the National Rice Awareness Month, the Department of Agriculture is encouraging consumers to avoid rice wastage and to buy locally produced rice to help the farmers boost their income.
Dr. Karen Eloisa Barroga, Deputy Executive Director for Development, said in a Palace press briefing that under the DA’s “Be RICEponsible” campaign, the agency is involving the consumers in preventing rice wastage which is around P7 million a year, aiding local farmers and providing the public with healthy food choices.
Some members of the country’s lower house of congress are also backing the call for half-cup rice servings, supporting a bill that was first submitted in the Senate in 2013 by then Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Antonio clarified that the half-cup rice servings are not intended as a mandatory measure, but aim to provide an option that aligns with the individual preference of consuming less rice.
In addition to the Be RICEponsible and agri-career campaigns, and Farmers’ Market, PhilRice Los Baños hosted its 21st Ceremonial Rice Harvesting as NRAM key event, in which 200 Salawag National High School students experienced planting and harvesting rice for the first time. Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District co-sponsored the activity.
Meanwhile, 240 indigenous people students from Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City benefited from the feeding program organized by PhilRice Agusan at Lusong Elementary School, Nov. 17. PhilRice Negros also fed 150 students of La Castellana National High School, Nov. 14.
About 300 pupils of Agriculture Central Elementary School in Midsayap were treated with a popular snack mixed with rice, sweet potato, saba, and corn, Nov. 21.
PhilRice Bicol staged a “Palay Lakad” in Ligao City, Albay to raise awareness and encourage the citizens to join in the advocacy. Ligao National High School students, Ligao City Women’s Club members, and senior citizens were also introduced to nutritious rice.
PhilRice Isabela featured Ramon’s Rice Art Nation that has won several regional and national awards while PhilRice Batac and DA-Regional Field Office I distributed 1kg of Malusog Rice to 200 tricycle drivers in La Union.
