Verdeflor urges food establishments to offer brown rice

BACOLOD City Councilor Sonya Verdeflor urged the food establishments in the city to offer brown rice as part of their regular menu.

Verdeflor said the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is spearheading a campaign called “Be RICEponsible” to promote better health, improve the income of farmers, and at the same time help in the achievement of rice self-sufficiency through the promotion of brown rice.

She said the brown or unpolished rice, being the whole grain form of rice, is nutritionally superior than white rice in terms of protein, dietary fiber, B1, B2, and B9 vitamins and Vitamin E, minerals and antioxidants.

“Cognizant and supportive to the rice self-sufficiency program of the national government, the City of Bacolod is very sincere in its effort to explore viable means that would facilitate the attainment of the said program,” she added.

Verdeflor noted the government is eager of improving the nutritional value of rice as a staple food.

Verdeflor said brown rice or unpolished rice has 10 percent higher milling recovery than white rice and therefore could help in the attainment of rice self-sufficiency.

She said brown rice could help the Filipino farmers improve their income.

She added that according to some researches, brown rice or unpolished rice could help reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and could lower blood pressure.

Verdeflor disclosed that all government offices should also serve brown rice in their cafeterias and to demand the use of brown rice in all government activities that include meals such as workshops, meetings, and conferences, and during feeding programs and rice distribution.