Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Catalino S. Cuy is calling on all local chief executives to support the celebration of this year’s National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) by promoting “RICEponsibility” in their communities.
“Local government officials have a crucial role in the campaign to inform every Filipino of how they can help the country achieve rice self-sufficiency,” says Cuy.
The theme for this year’s celebration of NRAM is “Ready? SET rice! RICEponsible Filipinos save rice, eat healthy, and try brown rice” which focuses on the consumption of an appropriate quantity of rice and of healthy forms of rice especially brown rice and rice mixes.
Spearheaded annually by the Department of Agriculture, the celebration of NRAM every November is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 524 series of 2004.
In a directive, Cuy urges governors and city and municipal mayors to participate in the #RICEponsiblePlateChallenge and encourage local food establishments to serve brown rice and rice mixes this November.
He likewise enjoins them to include the recitation of the Panatang Makapalay in their flag raising ceremony as well as to display tarpaulins bearing this year’s theme.
The Philippines’ active campaign on eating rice responsibly is due to the shortage in terms of rice production which in effect results to a high cost of rice grains in the market and attain rice sufficiency.
The ‘Be RICEponsible’ campaign is an advocacy that aims to promote the Riceponsibility of every Filipino to their bodies and to the country for better health and rice self-sufficiency.
According to the DA – Philippine Rice Research Institute, a person can be “RICEponsible” by not wasting even a single grain of rice, eating brown rice and rice mixed with other staples, and by thanking rice farmers literally or valuing the fruits of their labor.
DA says that compared with white rice, brown rice (unpolished rice) is nutritionally superior because it’s bran layer contains higher amounts of protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins, Vitamin E, minerals, and antioxidants.
DA also says that brown rice makes one feel full faster. Hence, instead of a cup of white rice, half or three-fourths of brown rice is enough.
Meanwhile, eating rice-corn mix may help lower the risks of diabetes because corn has lower glycemic index compared to white rice. Also, eating rice-corn mix can help consumers because it delays or slows down the feeling of hunger or tiredness. Corn grains aid in slowing energy release.
