Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Reacts To Halting of P20 per Kilo Rice Program
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President claimed that the government allegedly could not deliver rice at P20 per kilo, thus, it stopped the program.
Vice Pres. Duterte was one of those who reacted to the P20 per kilo rice program of the government. Her comment came after the agriculture department announced that cheap rice will be sold in Visayas. According to her, it is allegedly another way of the government to fool the people.
The Vice President also expressed her doubts on the intention behind the cheap rice program. According to her, there might be a problem with the votes in Visayas, thus, it will only be sold at the region despite the nationwide need for affordable rice.
Furthermore, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said that the rice must be fit for human consumption. According to her, the P20 per kilo rice is often used for animals. The remarks of Vice Pres. Duterte deeply hurt the Department of Agriculture family.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stressed that the department is committed in delivering quality rice to the Filipinos. He also claimed that they cook and eat NFA rice in the department every day. The agriculture department also held a media conference where they ate cooked NFA rice to show to the public that it is safe and quality.
However, the Commission on Elections or Comelec advised the Department of Agriculture to delay the cheap rice program for the May 2025 Elections. The Department of Agriculture recently announced that the rice program will be temporarily halted to give way for the May 2025 Elections.
According to DA Sec. Laurel, the program will be resumed after the elections. It has already sold cheap rice to around 2,500 Filipinos. The Comelec made the advise to avoid the program from being tainted as an election-related scheme. It also stressed that the local government units (LGUs) are not allowed to release assistance aside from medical and burial assistance amid the nearing elections.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte spoke on the stopping of the cheap rice program of the government. Based on a report on Inquirer, the Vice President claimed that the government allegedly cannot deliver affordable rice, thus, it stopped the program.
“Hindi talaga nila kaya na ibigay nang totoo ‘yung P20 ang kilo ng bigas. Kaya nila tinigil ‘yan kasi alam talaga nila na hindi talaga nila kaya ibenta. Sinubukan nila na mag-promise na naman ulit, na alam nilang hindi nila kayang ibigay,” Duterte said.
Previously, the agriculture department announced that P5 billion is allotted for the rice program.