Statement of Malacañang on Recent Remarks of VP Sara Duterte over P20 Per Kilo Rice
MALACAÑANG – The Palace reacted to the claim of Vice President Sara Duterte that she knows how the P20 per kilo rice can be achieved but she does not want to help Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
The P20 per kilo rice program of the Department of Agriculture is on a temporary pause now until after the May 2025 Elections. The decision of the DA is in line with the advice of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to prevent accusations that would link the program to the Midterm polls.
However, following the halting of the affordable rice program, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the government allegedly knows that it cannot deliver the rice at the said price, thus, it stopped it. Prior to her claim, the Vice President has criticized the program by expressing her doubts on the intention behind it.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte cited that the rice program is only available in Visayas despite its nationwide need. According to her, the government may be having a problem with the votes in the region. She also stressed that the rice that must be sold at P20 per kilo must be fit for human consumption and not for animals.
Malacañang previously called on Vice Pres. Sara Duterte not to let crab mentality get in the way. According to Palace press officer Atty. Claire Castro, the P20 per kilo rice has long been an aspiration of Pres. Bongbong Marcos and it is coming to realization now.
The Department of Agriculture previously expressed that it was “deeply hurt” by the remarks of Vice Pres. Duterte on the rice quality. According to the department, they cook and eat NFA rice every day and they are committed to providing quality rice for the Filipino people.
The Agriculture officials also cooked and ate NFA rice in a media conference to show to the people that the rice that will be sold at P20 per kilo is quality. The department also stressed that the rice’s originally price is at P33 per kilo.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the P20 per kilo rice is doable but she refuses to help Pres. Bongbong Marcos. Thus, the Vice President said she will just keep the knowledge to herself. Malacañang reacted to her remarks.
Based on a report on Inquirer, Malacañang press officer Atty. Claire Castro stressed that the true colors of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as a public servant shows in her recent action.
“Lumalabas po kasi kung ano po ba talaga ang anyo ng ating Bise Presidente, lumalabas ang tunay na kulay ng Bise Presidente bilang isang public servant,” the Palace official said.
Based on the report, Atty. Claire Castro further claimed that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s admission that she has knowledge, if there is, shows that she is selfish. The Malacañang press officer stressed if the Vice President does not think about the welfare of the Filipino people.
“Sa pag-amin niya pong ito na hindi niya ise-share kung anuman ang kanyang kaalaman, kung mayroon man talagang kaalaman, dahil nga sa ayaw niyang pagtulong sa ating Pangulo, ito’y nagpapakita ng isang makasarili, tandaan po natin kung anuman po ang kaalaman na mayroon kayo para sa taumbayan, ito po dapat ay agad-agad na isinasagawa at hindi po dapat ito tina-timing,” she said.
Malacañang press officer Atty. Claire Castro called on Vice Pres. Sara Duterte not to be childish. Based on the report, she stressed that the government is not a huge playground and serving the people is not a game.
“Hindi ba nga po naiisip ng Bise Presidente ang kapakanan ng taumbayan lalo na po’t iyong iba ay nahihirapang bumili ng bigas kahit na nga po mababa ang presyo ng bigas. Tandaan po natin, ang paglilingkod sa bayan ay hindi isang laro. Ang gobyerno, ang bansa ay hindi isang malaking playground, huwag naman po sanang maging asal bata ang Bise Presidente,” Castro said.
Previously, Malacañang denied there is politicking in the P20 per kilo rice sale in Visayas.