Department of Science and Technology (DOST) chief Renato Solidum Jr. said on Thursday that the Philippines can overcome the rice problem if the Filipinos consume alternative foods during the budget deliberation in the Senate on Thursday, September 21.

Solidum said that there is a huge possibility to resolve the rice woes if consumers change their buying behavior, saying that the food situation can be handled by looking for other alternatives.

The Science and Technology chief made the statement after Senator Francis Tolentino mentioned that the group of Manobos only eats rice once a week and usually eats root crops.

According to him, it is "not bad" to eat root crops as an alternative to rice, but he did not further explain the other alternatives, noting that one could be bananas.