AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to partner with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to hasten the release of ultra-low glycemic index (GI) and protein-rich variety of rice to Filipino farmers.
Lee said mainstreaming the production of this variety of rice would greatly aid in the reduction of diabetes mellitus cases in the country.
“It is a known fact that the Philippines is one of the leading consumers of rice in the world. And since rice seems to be a permanent part of our diet, its connection to the number of people with diabetes in the country cannot be denied,” Lee said mostly in Filipino.
According to the International Diabetes Foundation, of which the Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism is a member, there were a total of 4,303,899 cases of diabetes recorded or 66.4 percent out of the 66,754,400 total adult population in the country in 2021.
Further, in 2023, deaths in the Philippines due to diabetes mellitus were recorded at 14,416 cases, or 6.2 percent, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the country.
The IRRI aims to introduce the ultra-low GI, high protein rice variety by 2025. The research institute said the multi-location trial for this has already been started in more than 10 provinces nationwide.
Glycemic index is a ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods based on how slowly or quickly they are digested and increase blood glucose levels, with pure sugar having a score of 100.
The IRRI said it expects more rice farmers to cultivate this variety once the trials determine the target market. According to IRRI scientists, the price of ultra-low GI, high protein rice will be the same as the normal rice available in the markets.
According to Lee, the DA can certainly find ways to expedite and expand the trials.