MANILA, 03 November 2020 — Slow food enthusiasts will gather virtually to underscore the importance of food, and its waste reduction and management, on the 25th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” with the topic “Waste Not, Want Not: A Food Waste Episode with Slow Food Manila.”

The episode, hosted by House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 05 November 2020, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/conglorenlegarda.
 
Chefs and restaurant owners will join the online conversation, including Kalel Demetrio, co-owner of Agimat Foraging Bar and Kitchen; Chef Waya Wijangco, owner of Gourmet Gypsy Art Café; and Chef Robby Goco, owner of Cyma Restaurants.
 
According to the World Wildlife Fund-Philippines, Filipinos waste about 308,000 tons of rice every year. In Metro Manila alone, an estimated 2,175 tons of food scraps end up in trash bins on a daily basis. Much of this wasted food come from restaurants.
 
In previous episodes, the online series tackled food gardening and saving seeds, permaculture, good nutrition and diet, youth climate activism, planting native trees, practical sustainability, narrating risk to resilience stories through books, tree pest and disease management, Panay Island ecology, reviving indigenous textiles and crafts, transforming waste into wages, and sustainable urban mobility.
 
This upcoming episode will feature restaurateurs who will share their knowledge on the adverse effects of food wastage and how their respective restaurants effectively manage their food waste in support of sustainable consumption and production.
 
As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, "Stories for a Better Normal" aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities.
 
This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.