DIPOLOG CITY - The Department of Agriculture
(DA) in region 9 recently held a media forum at Mibang Hotel here to officially
launch the National Year of Rice 2013, which aims to attain the rice
self-sufficiency target next year.
President
Benigno Aquino III has issued Proclamation No. 494 directing the DA to lead the
celebration of the National Year of Rice and raise public awareness on
responsible rice consumption.
The
media forum has sought the help of media men support to enjoin the public or
the rice-consuming public, producers and the policy-makers to support the goal
of making the country rice sufficient.
To
draw the commitment of the group, DA-9 Regional Executive Director Eduardo
Holoyohoy, together with DA Regional Technical Director Dennis Palabrica, RAFID
Chief Maria Melba Wee, Marilou Sybico of NFA-Zamboanga del Norte provincial
office, Senior Engineer Zardo Roa of the National Irrigation Administration
(NIA) and DA regional office staff came in full force to solicit from the local
media practitioners their support to the
NYR 2013 celebration by having them recite the “Pledge for Rice/Panatang
Makapalay.”
Wee
pointed out that by the end of 2013, 50% of the consuming public in the focus
areas are expected to commit themselves to be responsible rice consumers by
just eating the right amount of rice, not wasting rice and eating other sources
of carbohydrates.
DA
revealed that every Filipino wasted an average of 2 tablespoons of cooked rice
or 9 grams of uncooked rice a day. “In 2010, our wasted rice was equivalent to
13% of total rice imports of the same year. This is equivalent to P6.2-billion
or the consumption of nearly 2.6 million Filipinos,” Wee said.
On
the average, Filipinos eat 4-1/2 cups of rice a day when 3 cups of rice is
already enough.