VP Sara Duterte Raises Concern on Quality of Low Cost Rice
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President said that the rice that will be sold for P20 per kilo to the Filipinos must be fit for human consumption.
The aspirations of countless Filipinos for an affordable rice is met with an option for the people in Visayas. It came after the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that rice will be sold at P20 per kilo in the region following the order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
The sale of rice at P20 per kilo is a popular campaign promise of Marcos Jr. Last year, amid the souring relationship between the President and the Vice President, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte urged the public to demand the fulfillment of Marcos Jr.’s P20 per kilo rice promise. Prior to it, the Chief Executive claimed that the government is working on its goal.
Following the recent announcement of the Department of Agriculture, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the government is allegedly fooling the Filipinos again with its P20 per kilo rice sale in Visayas. According to her, it is doubtful that it is only available in Visayas and not in Luzon and Mindanao.
Duterte also claimed that a meeting was allegedly held at the capitol in Cebu and it gathered most of the governors in Visayas. She raised a speculation on an alleged problem in the votes in Visayas. Based on a report on GMA News, the Vice President also claimed that the fulfillment of the campaign promise may be coming a little bit late.
“Hindi ‘yan pagiging mapagpuna… it’s a campaign promise, ‘yung 20 pesos na rice, at ngayon lang in-implement sa panahon ng eleksyon,” she said.
Vice Pres. Duterte stressed that the affordable rice is a nationwide need as per the report. She also raised a concern on the quality of rice that will be sold to the Filipinos at P20 per kilo.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said that the rice that will be sold at P20 per kilo must be fit for human consumption and not for animal consumption. According to her, the rice that is usually sold at P20 is often used to feed the pigs.
“‘Pag sinabi natin na P20 per kilo na bigas, ‘yung pwede kainin ng tao… ‘Yan ‘yung P20 per kilo na binibenta, ‘yung pinapakain sa baboy. Hindi mga hayop ang mga Pilipino. Kapag nagbenta kayo ng P20 per kilo, bibili kami lahat kasi pwede siya kainin ng tao,” Vice Pres. Duterte said.
Following the criticism of the Vice President on the rice program of the government in Visayas, Malacañang hit back at Vice Pres. Sara Duterte saying crab mentality should not be exhibited.