The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has has instructed all local chief executives to promote the upcoming observance of the 2015 Year of the Rice this month.
This is in support of the call of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on every Filipino to give utmost importance regarding rice intake.
The second and third Fridays of the month are considered Brown Rice Day (November 13) and Rice Mix Day (November 20), respectively.
This year’s theme is called “Be RICEponsible In Your Way Now (BROWN) For Good,” which aims to encourage every Filipino to preserve rice, eat healthier rice for their own good, the rice farmers, and the country’s economy.
In his memorandum to local executives, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero gave instructions about informing food establishments, particularly government cafeterias to serve brown rice and rice mixes especially during the second and third Friday of November.
The campaign also aims to achieve rice self-sufficiency pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 494. Rice consumers are encouraged to support responsible rice consumption for better health and less rice wastage and more productive farming. (Czarina Nicole O. Ong)