The price of the rice is not right? 

Why not try corn?

This was the advice of the health department to Filipinos as a substitute for rice as other nutritious carbohydrates alternatives. 

Frankly, corn and sweet potatoes are much sweeter than rice, but this news really makes Filipinos bitter as rice became part of Filipinos daily lives. 

On September 5, the Department of Health had a media forum that tackled the health concerns of the Filipinos. 

Screenshot from Department of Health Official Facebook Page

When asked about the rice shortage in the country spokesperson  Enrique Tayag said, there needs to be a rotation of corn, and sweet potato as the alternative of rice as there has been a shortage of stock due to the implemented price cap on prime commodities.

Could 20 pesos rice rise?

According to the National Economic and Development Authority, the Philippines still has a stock of rice but these prices have been increasing daily. 

On the mandated executive order 39 of Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, the price ceiling of the regular milled-rice would be 41 php per kilo, and 45 php per kilo for the well-milled rice.

Photo Courtesy: Pexels

The DOH mentioned that sweet potatoes, and corn have better nutrition unlike rice, for example, eating camote would not result in diabetes, sweet potato has high fiber, and has nutrients that could fight cancer. 

Tayag also said that the mentioned alternative carbohydrates are much cheaper than rice, yet they provide the same nutrition.

With reports from Alyza Santos