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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Philippines 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. 9511 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. NICANOR M. BRIONES 
Representative, AGAP Party List 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to a Department of Science and Technology survey in 2018, 
rice has been one of the top most wasted foods in the Filipino household. 
The Philippine Rice Research Institute recently reported that two 
tablespoons of rice are wasted by every person in the country daily. This 
is equivalent to 385,000 metric tons of rice, or rice worth Php7.2 billion 
which could have been allocated to feed around 2.5 million Filipinos. 
Given the current issues in food supply and food inflation in the 
country, we cannot permit this food wastage to continue. It is imperative, 
therefore, to reduce rice wastage in accordance with our goal of achieving 
food security. 
The 1987 Constitution has mandated the State to promote a just and 
dynamic social order that frees the people from poverty, and promote social 
justice in all phases of national development. The State likewise adheres to 
the policy of achieving food security and self-sufficiency and poverty 
reduction. As such, many of our government programs have been geared 
towards these goals. 
This bill is filed in support of these policies. Mandating the offer of 
half-cup of rice in the menu of commercial food establishments will allow 
Filipinos to order just the right amount of rice they can consume. Moreover, it 
will allow Filipinos to save money by purchasing only the amount of rice 
needed. In the long run, it is hoped that this will help develop a sense of 
responsibility and awareness among Filipinos on their food consumption. 
With the foregoing premises considered, this representation fervently 
seeks support in the approval of this bill. 
November 13, 2023
8:56 am


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NICANOR M. BRIONES 
Representative 
AGAP Partylist 


 
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Philippines 
 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
 
House Bill No. _____ 
 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
 
Introduced by HON. NICANOR M. BRIONES 
Representative, AGAP Party List 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
 
AN ACT 
MANDATING ALL COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS SERVING FOOD TO 
THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE ONE-HALF CUP OF RICE SERVING AS A 
MENU OPTION, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION OF SUCH, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
 
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
congress assembled: 
 
 
SECTION 1. Short Title of Act. - This Act shall be known as the “Half-
cup Rice Act of 2023”. 
 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to mandate all commercial establishments serving food to the public to 
include half-cup or one hundred grams (100g) of cooked rice serving option 
in their menus. 
 
SEC 3. Penalties. – Any business establishment who is found violating 
this Act shall be meted with a fine in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos 
(Php20,000.00) for the first offense; Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) for 
the second offense; and One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00) and 
suspension of license or permit to operate for a period of not less than thirty 
(30) days for the third and subsequent offenses. 
 
SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Trade and Industry 
and the Department of Agriculture shall formulate the rules and regulations 
for the proper implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 5. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act shall be 
held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 


 
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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, executive orders, 
rules, or regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 7. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,