QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The Quezon City government said Saturday it will strengthen its feeding programs by introducing more nutritious rice varieties, including brown, pigmented, high-zinc, and low-glycemic rice.
The initiative, finalized in a meeting of the city’s health department, is part of the Healthier Rice Program and aims to improve the nutrition of children, pregnant women and the elderly, while helping prevent malnutrition and lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes.
A 2018–2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey by the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) found that more than 220,000 households in Quezon City are at risk of developing diabetes.
City officials said the program will also reinforce Quezon City’s support for the nationwide “Be RICEponsible” campaign, which promotes responsible rice consumption and discourages food waste.
In 2014, the city became one of the first local governments to pass the “Half-Cup Rice Ordinance,” requiring food establishments to offer half-cup servings of rice at fair prices to reduce waste.
Quezon City, the most populous local government unit in Metro Manila, has long been a pilot site for nutrition and health initiatives, as national surveys consistently show the city has high numbers of residents vulnerable to lifestyle diseases.
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