LAOAG CITY ORDINANCE NO. SP 2014-014 (HALF-CUP RICE SERVING)

Republic of the Philippines

Province of Ilocos Norte

CITY OF LAOAG

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD

EXCERPT FROM THE RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE 32nd REGULAR SESSION OF THE 9th SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF LAOAG HELD AT THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD SESSION HALL ON MARCH 17, 2014.

PRESENT:

1. Hon. Michael V. Fariñas     City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer

2. Hon. Jeff Ericson P. Fariñas          S.P. Member

3. Hon. Donald G. Nicolas                S.P. Member

4. Hon. Sonia B. Siazon           S.P. Member

5. Hon. Franklin Dante A. Respicio S.P. Member

6. Hon. Derick B. Lao              S.P. Member

7. Hon. Shirley Ong Sin          S.P. Member

8. Hon. Joseph H. Tamayo               S.P. Member

9. Hon. Edison H. Bonoan                S.P. Member

10.     Hon. Ferdinand L. Domingo  S.P. Member

11.      Hon. Edison U. Chua             S.P. Member

12.      Hon. Mikee V. Fariñas           S.P. Member (ABC Rep.)

ABSENT:

   WHEREAS, it has been noted, observed and established that food items, particularly rice have been wasted in the food service industry;

   WHEREAS, based on a study submitted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), every Filipino wastes about two (2) table spoons of cooked rice every meal, excluding large volume of rice wasted in catering services) and that in 2010, wasted rice was equivalent to 13% of the total rice imports and amounted to 6.2 Billion Pesos or equivalent to the consumption of more or less 2.6 Million Filipinos in a year;

   WHEREAS, this uncontrolled consumption of rice contributes to the situation where there is rice insufficiency in our country and therefore, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 494 signed on 18 October 2012 by His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III, President, Republic of the Philippines, which aims to attain self sufficiency in rice by 2013;

   WHEREAS, Presidential Proclamation 494 likewise encourages the public to be responsible rice consumers in order to

   WHEREAS, the National Food Authority (NFA,) Ilocos Norte Branch, in a letter dated 19 September 2013, signed by its Provincial Manager, Ms Beverlyn P. Peralta requested the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Laoag through the HON. MICHAEL V. FARINAS, City Vice Mayor and Presiding Officer, for the passage of an Ordinance requiring the Food Service Industry in Laoag City, to include half-rice serving in their Menu;

   NOW THEREFORE with the foregoing premises, the 9th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Laoag, in support to the program of the national government, upon motion of the Hon. Joseph H. Tamayo duly seconded by Hon. Donald G. Nicolas, the Body with the members present in Session

   RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED to pass and approve

CITY ORDINANCE NO. SP 2014-014

Series of 2014

AN ORDINANCE MANDATING THE FOOD INDUSTRY WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF LAOAG CITY TO INCLUDE HALF-CUP RICE SERVING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE MENU PROVIDING PENALTIES IN VIOLATION HEREOF

Be it Ordained that:

   Section 1. The Food Industry within the territorial jurisdiction of Laoag CITY shall include half cup-rice serving in their respective menu.

  

   Section 2. DEFINITION OF TERMS

   2.1. FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY – in this Ordinance, it shall refer to all business establishments,

Institutions responsible for any meal served outside the home which includes restaurants, schools/school canteens, offices/office canteens, hospitals, cafeterias, catering operations/services, fast food chains and other similar or related food serving services.

   2.2. MENU – shall refer to a list of options/choices of food items offered by food serving entities.

   2.3. CATERING SERVICES – in this Ordinance, shall refer to an entity that usually provides food for events serving usually a large number of persons/consumers.

   2.4. HALF-RICE SERVING – in this Ordinance, it shall refer to half of the rice serving offered by a food serving entity, e.g. regular serving = one cup; per this definition, shall be half cup of rice.

   Section 3. PENALTY CLAUSE.  For violating this Ordinance or upon discovery that the Menu of a food serving entity does not recommend/contain/ suggest half-rice serving, , the following penalties shall apply to the entity, to wit:

   3.1. First Offense -   a fine of  Php1,500.00 and a written reprimand.

   3.2. Second Offense – a fine of Php3,000.00 and or closure for 7 days.

   3.3. Third Offense – a fine of Php5,000.00 and or closure for 15 days.

   Section 4. OPTIONS. Customers shall have the option to request for a full/regular order of rice but it shall be the responsibility of the food service entity to remind customers to order only what they can consume in order to avoid rice to be wasted.

   Food service entities are likewise encouraged to devise their own scheme to discourage excessive ordering of viand/food (rice) especially those offering “unlimited rice” as a marketing strategy.

   In the case of catering services, it shall be necessary that a rice server be assigned to oversee the distribution of rice and ensure that the amount of rice will not be wasted as left over s it has been observed that this situation is prevalent in catered parties and events.

   Section 5.  MONITORING.  The Local Chief Executive shall form a task Force from the Licensing Division of the City Mayor’s Office and from the Office of the City Treasurer to monitor and ensure that this Ordinance is implemented. The function of the Task Force is to check on food serving entities if half-rice serving is offered in their Menu and that no rice served shall be wasted.

   Section 6. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval on review by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

   Section 5. MORATORIUM. In consideration of those food serving entities with Central operations that are based outside Laoag City, a Moratorium of one month shall be in effect upon approval of this ordinance, the intention of which is for these entities to coordinate with their central offices and given ample time to come up with the necessary Menu design/ format in accord with their operation and likewise in compliance with this ordinance.

   Section 6. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.  If any part of this Ordinance is declared juridically as unconstitutional or unlawful, such declaration shall not affect the other parts or section hereof that are lawful and constitutional.

   Section 7. REPEALING CLAUSE.  All Ordinances, resolutions, motions, memoranda, orders and other issuances inconsistent herewith shall be deemed repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

Carried.

APPROVED this 17th day of March 2014, by the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present with the following votes:

Those in favor:  J.E. P. Fariñas, Nicolas, Siazon, Respicio, Lao, Ong Sin, Tamayo, Bonoan, Domingo, Chua, M.V. Fariñas.

Nays:  N o n e

Abstentions:  N o n e

   I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true, correct, and faithful excerpt from the Record of Proceedings of the 32nd Regular Session of the 9th Sangguniang Panlungsod held at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall, Laoag City on March 17, 2014.

(SGD) ENRICO A. AURELIO

Secretary to the Sanggunian

Attested:

(SGD) MICHAEL V. FARIÑAS

City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer

Approved: (April 1, 2014)

(SGD)CHEVYLLE V. FARIÑAS

City Mayor