Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

fe RECEIVED ” D
DS pare 10 SEP 2 Th

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BLL No. _4525

Introduced by: Rep. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan and
Rep. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS TO PROVIDE ONE-HALF CUP OF RICE
‘SERVING AS A MENU OPTION, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
THEREOF

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Rice is the staple food of the Filipinos. However, research shows that
Filipino households waste rice the most. Data from the National Nutrition Council
show that the average plate waste in a Filipino household per day typically
amounts to 53 grams of rice and rice products.

According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), with "94
million and 9 grams of wasted rice per day, the total wastage is 308,000 tons,
36 percent of 2011 rice imports. The sald rice wastage translates to at least
US$535,000 (23 million pesos) every day or $223 million a year, an amount
sufficient to feed 4.3 million people.

The Philippines is an agricultural country. Ironically, the country is also
the world's biggest importer of rice for several years. To date, the government is
implementing various programs to attain rice self-sufficiency which remains an
elusive goal.

It was reported that Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. has
called for renewed action to curb rice wastage in the Philippines as current levels
could feed 2.8 million Filipinos annually. This call is in spite of data from the
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) that show household rice wastage
decreased to 255,000 metric tons in 2019, down from 340,000 metric tons in
2009.3

1 httus://www.facebook.com/nncoficial/posts/think-twice-before-wasting-rce-did-you-
know-that-the-average-plate-waste-in-a-f/1067476468743104/ Accessed on
September 2025

2 Rice wastage equalled a third of PHL rice imports in 2011-IRRI, GMA News Online, April
19, 2012

3°'DA chief pushes ‘half-cup rice’ plan as rice waste could feed millions
(https://www.da.gov.ph/da-chief-pushes-half-cup-rice-plan-as-rice-waste-could-feed-
millions/) Accessed on 09 September 2025



In this light, this bill, which was originally filed by President Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr. when he was a senator during the 16 Congress and which was
subsequently sponsored by then Congresswoman Angelina “Helen” Tan of the 4
District of Quezon during the 17% Congress, seeks to penalize the practice of
some food establishments of refusing to serve order of rice from a customer if it
be less than one (1) cup.

It is hoped that this measure will considerably reduce rice wastage and
promote food security in the country.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

7Oo~ -
KK /' Bardm A
KEITH “ATTY. MIKE” D.L. TAN IRIS MARIE D. MONTES:

4th District, Quezon Kababaihan Kabalikatan para sa Kapakanan
‘at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (4K) Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House ent no, 4525

Introduced by: Rep. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan and
Rep. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS TO PROVIDE ONE-HALF CUP OF RICE
SERVING AS A MENU OPTION, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
‘THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Rice
Wastage Act.”

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall be defined as stated below:

(a) “Food establishments” shall refer to establishments that prepare and
sell food directly to consumers for immediate consumption, whether
indoor or outdoor, such as restaurants, commissaries, cafeterias, cafes,
lunchrooms, bistros, fast food establishments, food courts, buffets,
eateries, retail bakeries, mobile food trucks, and dining areas in
accommodation establishments; and

(b)"Half-cup rice” shall refer to a one hundred (100) grams of cooked rice
serving option in the menu of a food establishment.

SEC. 3. Requiring Food Establishments to Provide One-Half Cup of Rice
Serving as a Menu Option. ~ Pursuant to the goal of preventing rice wastage and
promoting the nutritional well-being of the Filipino people, all food
establishments are required to provide one-half cup of rice serving as a menu
option. The price of a one-half cup of rice shall be set at half of the one-cup
order.

SEC. 4. Penalties. - Any food establishment found violating this Act shall
be fined Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00) for the first offense; Ten Thousand
Pesos (Php10,000.00) for the second offense; and Twenty Thousand Pesos
(Php20,000.00) and suspension of license or permit to operate for a period of
not less than thirty (30) days for the third offence and subsequent offenses.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Trade
and Industry shall, in consultation with the concerned government agencies and


stakeholders, promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act
within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.

SEC 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, and administrative regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent
herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,