LET’S LIMIT UNLIMITED RICE

Restaurants and other food service establishments are offering unlimited rice servings to their customers as a strategy to attract their patronage. This results in unnecessary increases in rice consumption that adds to the shortage of rice inventories. It also adds to unwanted increases in rice imports. Moreover, unlimited rice encourages over eating that is not good for the health of Filipinos, especially those who need to reduce their sugar intake. Since this practice could potentially affect our food security, the government should think about issuing some rules that would discourage restaurants and other food service establishments from serving unlimited rice in their menu offerings. Of course, I do understand that offering unlimited rice is a free market decision among restaurant, and the customers also have the freedom of choice whether to avail of the offer or not. Perhaps the rules as issued could be similar to the “suggested retail prices” (SRPs) as it applies to consumer goods. In reality, SRPs are simply just “suggestions” and nothing else. In that since, it is really up to the merchants whether to comply or not. And if merchants are arrested for not complying, it would already be a violation of their rights. Instead of violating the rights of merchants, the government should just go into an information campaign to explain why it is important to conserve our rice supply. For their own sake, and for the good of everyone. IKE SENERES/09088877282/1-9-2024