Philippines: Minimizing food waste | Global Ideas

Summary

In the Philippines, food waste is a significant issue, with millions unable to afford three meals a day while restaurants discard large amounts of food. Efforts to reduce waste are underway, with initiatives focused on sustainability, such as smaller portions and the use of overlooked food parts. Environmental experts like Melody Mello Reich are guiding hotels and restaurants to minimize waste. Meanwhile, communities rely on discarded food, a dire reality for people like Philippa Balda, who feeds her family by sifting through garbage. A proposed bill in the Philippines aims to divert surplus food to food banks, offering hope to those in need.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hunger drives many people in the Philippines to scavenge through garbage for food, especially in Manila.
• 😀 Philippa Balda feeds her family by collecting discarded food, washing it, and cooking it for her loved ones.
• 😀 The term 'pug pug' in Tagalog refers to food scraps, and around 13 million Filipinos cannot afford three meals a day.
• 😀 The Philippines has a stark contrast between poverty and wastefulness, with popular all-you-can-eat buffets generating large amounts of food waste.
• 😀 Waste in food production and consumption contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, including the depletion of water, electricity, and soil nutrients.
• 😀 Melody Mello-Reich from WWF Philippines works with restaurants and hotels to reduce food waste by advising on sustainable practices.
• 😀 In resorts like Tagaytay, which is a popular weekend destination, food culture plays a key role in waste generation.
• 😀 Chef Marlin Ah Suelo works to reduce waste by preparing healthy dishes and using all edible parts of vegetables, even composting organic waste.
• 😀 Portion control in restaurants is a key method for reducing food waste, as oversized servings lead to excess food being discarded.
• 😀 Food waste in landfills generates methane, a greenhouse gas that is over 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to climate change.
• 😀 There is a legislative bill in the Philippines proposing the donation of surplus food by restaurants, supermarkets, and food manufacturers to food banks.
• 😀 Waste pickers like Philippa Vida search through trash for edible food, a practice that is crucial for feeding her family after her husband's death.

Q & A

What is the main issue faced by people in the Philippines related to food?

Many people in the Philippines, particularly the impoverished, cannot afford three meals a day. This results in them scavenging through garbage to find food, even if it’s discarded or spoiled.

What is the term used for discarded food in the local language?

The term used for discarded food in the local language, Tagalog, is 'pug pug'.

How does food waste contribute to environmental problems in the Philippines?

Food waste contributes to environmental issues by creating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which is more than 20 times stronger than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere.

How does Melody Mello Reich work to reduce food waste?

Melody Mello Reich runs the Sustainable Production and Consumption project for WWF Philippines, where she advises restaurants and hotels on how to minimize food waste and reduce their overall environmental impact.

What is one of the food waste reduction strategies used by Marlin Ah Suelo?

Marlin Ah Suelo, a chef, reduces food waste by downsizing portion sizes, using every part of vegetables, and composting organic waste. He also ensures dishes are garnished to appear larger without increasing waste.

Why is the issue of food waste becoming more significant in the Philippines?

The issue of food waste is growing as prosperity increases, leading to more affluent people who can afford excess food, which then gets discarded. This is coupled with cultural practices of large gatherings where food is often over-prepared.

What does the bill before the Philippine Parliament propose to address food waste?

The bill proposes that food manufacturers, restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets donate surplus edible food to food banks to distribute to those in need, helping reduce food waste and alleviate hunger.

How do food banks play a role in addressing the food waste problem?

Food banks can provide a solution to the food waste problem by redistributing surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away, helping to feed those who are struggling to afford meals.

What challenges do waste pickers face while collecting discarded food?

Waste pickers face difficult conditions, such as searching through foul-smelling garbage to find edible food, which they then clean, cook, and serve to their families. Despite the unpleasantness, it's often their only option for feeding themselves.

How does Philippa Balda's experience reflect the broader social issue in the Philippines?

Philippa Balda’s experience highlights the extreme poverty faced by many Filipinos, where the responsibility of feeding a family often falls on individuals like her, forcing them to rely on scavenged food, which is both unsafe and unsanitary.