Netizens directed heavy criticism towards Senator Cynthia Villar when her anti unli-rice statement during a Senate hearing on rice importation became a trending topic online.
On June 14, Villar suggested that food establishments should encourage people to eat more vegetables instead of providing extra servings of rice. She made this statement amid government efforts towards rice self-sufficiency.
She was quoted in saying:
“You know, the findings in other countries, mas better ang diet nila. Hindi masyadong maraming rice, may vegetable. If you really ask doctors, that’s a better diet.”
However, the senator has clarified that she was not pursuing to ban the serving of so-called unlimited rice (unli-rice) in restaurants and other food establishments. Sen. Cynthia Villar clarified that she was merely “voicing out” her concern on the health risks of eating too much rice.
On June 15, Villar released this statement:
“I am not planning to make a law banning ‘unli rice’; not at all. I just voiced out my concern that eating too much rice is one of the main causes of high blood sugar that leads to diabetes. But, of course, I cannot prevent people from eating unlimited amount of rice. It is their choice. It was just a genuine expression of concern on my part.”
This is a complete turn-around of the senator’s previous statement which was made during last Wednesday’s hearing.
“Ipagbawal na ‘yang unlimited rice; masama ‘yan. Ipagbawal na natin ‘yang unlimited rice kasi nagkakasakit tayo gawa ng unlimited rice na yan. We should learn how to eat vegetables.”
The senator simply wished to decrease the health risks associated with eating too much glucose – an active ingredient in rice. Cynthia Villar cited a study which claimed that eating one plate of white rice everyday increases the risk of diabetes by 11%.
However, Villar admitted that it might be difficult to persuade Filipinos to stop eating too much rice because the Philippines is a nation of rice eaters.
Sen. Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to promote programs aiming for better nutrition for young Filipinos.
SOURCE: Inquirer, ABS-CBN, Rappler
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