Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual on Wednesday advised Filipinos to adjust their diet amidst the surging prices of rice in the local market.
"Adopt and adjust, maybe our diet. Ayun nga, diet is very traditional," Pascual said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
He said that Filipino families can try eating other alternatives such as corn.
"We are used to eating rice for breakfast. Mahirap mag-shift. Sa iba naman, pandesal during breakfast" Pascual added.
He shared that they had conducted experiments on the effectiveness of the rice, corn, and meat diet when he was still the President of the University of the Philippines (UP).
"I am not saying, I'm pushing it now. We made experiments on rice, corn, and meats: 70% rice, 30% white corn. We tested the nutritional value. We tested the acceptability and it was a pass," he said.
The DTI Secretary said that they previously asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to promote the said rice, corn, and meat diet.
"Of course, for us, in UP, although we can suggest, we cannot implement. We were able to promote it at a certain extent. Ginamit ko ngang Christmas gift itong rice, corn, and meats at that time just to promote the idea," he said.
According to Pascual, the prices of corns are much cheaper than rice.
The DTI Secretary's statement drew mixed reactions among netizens, with some agreeing and others raise their eyebrows.
"Ano daw? Eh ang galing! Dapat huwag na kumain, sabihin niya. Ano kaya yun?" one citizen told RH Edniel Parrosa in an interview.
WATCH: ‘ANU RAW? SABIHIN NIYA, HUWAG NA KUMAIN!’
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) August 16, 2023
Tinaasan ng kilay ng ilang mamimili sa Agora Public Market sa San Juan ang mungkahi ng DTI official sa mga Pinoy na mag-‘diet’ muna habang mahal ang presyo ng bigas. | RH 52 @ednielparrosa #SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/aIpTlIHQ0b
Another citizen said that they have no problem in adjusting their diet.
"Pwede naman yung kasi yung pagkain noong unang panahon ay may kamote, may mais, at yung bigas, nagmahal, pwedeng ipalit doon sa mais o kamote," he said.
Meanwhile, a rice seller said that his customers will not be stopped from buying rice.
"Kasi kung hindi sila bumili, walang kakainin kaya kahit magmahal ang bigas, bibili at bibili ang mga customer namin," he added.
Mga mamimili, tindero sa Agora Public Market sa San Juan City, hati ang reaksyon sa mungkahi ng DTI official na mag-‘diet’ muna sa gitna ng mahal na presyo ng bigas @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/lTqv7G7SU3
— Edniel Parrosa (@ednielparrosa) August 17, 2023
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has already handed down a marching order to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and DTI to closely monitor the prices of rice in the local markets.
