Comelec: Defer P20 rice rollout after polls

Palace open to Comelec proposal

MANILA, Philippines — After the pilot launch of the P20 per kilo rice project, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has advised the government to defer the full rollout until after the midterm polls.

“This is to avoid being accused of politicizing the rice rollout,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

Garcia explained that the Comelec granted an exemption for the Department of Agriculture (DA) in support of the government’s P20-a-kilo rice program.

However, local government units (LGUs) that shall implement the rice program are covered by the 10-day ban on the distribution of all forms of welfare and social assistance, he said.

Only burial and medical assistance programs are exempted from the 10-day ban.

According to Garcia, the P20 rice project to be implemented by LGUs could be considered a form of ayuda and thus covered by the ban.

He said the Comelec has so far received a request for an exemption from the local government of Cebu.

The poll chief noted that Kadiwa stores nationwide, where the public can buy products at lower prices, are not covered by the 10-day ban.

Malacañang is open to the Comelec’s proposal to implement the program after the midterm polls to ensure compliance with the 10-day spending ban.

“If that is the suggestion and policy of the Comelec chair, we will respond to it,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

Hands tied

If Comelec fails to issue an exemption to the LGUs, the DA has no choice but to start the implementation of the P20 per kilo rice program after the May 12 elections, DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said in a radio interview.

De Mesa added that Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. will proceed with the launching of the P20 per kilo rice program today in Cebu.

“The exemption issued by the Comelec to the DA is separate from our partner LGUs and we want to ensure the smooth implementation of the program,” De Mesa said.

“We want clarification that the DA and our partners will not be violating any Comelec provision,” the spokesman noted. – Bella Cariaso, Alexis Romero