PH saves P3.6B from reduced wasted rice

THE Philippines saved P3.6 billion from reduced wastage of rice, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said in a statement over the weekend.

The savings were based on the current price of rice at P43 per kilogram. “Despite the significant savings, the amount of rice wasted could still sustain 2.79 million people for a year. This highlights the need for stronger advocacy on responsible consumption,” PhilRice head of development communication division Hazel Antonio-Beltran said. Data from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed daily wastage per household averaged 53 grams of cooked rice from 2018 to 2019. Using the 2020 population as a reference, the DA estimated that uncooked rice wastage has been reduced from 9g per person in 2009 to 6g in 2024.