Davao City soon to have brown rice mill

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2015/11/06/davao-city-soon-have-brown-rice-mill-440086
• Friday, November 6, 2015

By Karina V. Canedo

DAVAO City Councilor Marissa P. Abella said that a milling station for brown rice is set to be installed in the Agri Pinoy Trading Center (APTC) at Daliao Toril.

Abella, chair of the committee on food and agriculture in a media interview after a committee hearing last Wednesday said that in order to reduce amount of brown rice and be made available and the local restaurants, Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) had talked with the Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala to add a milling station of brown rice in the APTC.

“According to Phil Rice senior science research specialist Ms. Hazel Antonio, of Philrice that they are able to talk with secretary Alcala to add a milling station for the brown rice at the APTC,” Abella said.

She added that this is the feedback of Philrice representatives present in the committee hearing on the opposition of some Davao city hospitals to the proposal of Phil Rice in the committee to craft a brown rice ordinance and to include brown rice to the menus of different food establishments.

According to the representatives of hospitals in the city, brown rice is very expensive and is less available.

Abella said the milling station will solve the problem of availability and cost of the brown rice.

“Yung fresh na mga palay, doon ipapa-mill sa trading center para may availability ang brown rice. If this ordinance will be passed hopefully, its monitoring measures will be included in the Implementing Rules and Regulations,” Abella said.

The Philrice promotes brown rice because of it health benefits.