Palace hits back at VP Sara over P20/kilo rice criticism

CEBU, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday fired back at Vice President Sara Duterte for linking the administration's P20-per-kilo rice program to the upcoming midterm elections, urging her to avoid crab mentality and warning against being a “termite” as President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. strives to fulfill his campaign promise.

The Marcos administration recently announced plans to sell rice at P20 per kilo—a key pledge made by the President during the 2022 elections. According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the government plans to allocate P3.5 billion to P4.5 billion to subsidize the initiative, which will be rolled out nationwide starting next week.

Vice President Duterte—Marcos' former running mate and now a vocal critic—has slammed the initiative, describing it as a move to bolster the chances of administration-backed senatorial candidates. She has also raised concerns that the program could be a "budol" or scam, warning that the low-priced rice might be unfit for human consumption.

In a regular press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro rejected the suggestion that the initiative is politically motivated. She emphasized that the administration has long sought to provide Filipinos with access to affordable rice.

"Now that the aspiration of the President is slowly being realized, why are they speaking negatively about it? Again, the President wants cheap rice delivered to the people. The government is working to achieve this aspiration," Castro said.

"A true leader and a true Filipino should support a fellow Filipino, especially the leader of the country. They should not let crab mentality prevail and they should not be termites of society. Let us unite so the President and the government can achieve their aspirations for the people," she added.

Castro also dismissed claims that the Visayas was selected as the pilot site due to its being a vote-rich region. She explained that many residents there are in need and that the National Food Authority has sufficient rice stock in the area. Under the program, each family can buy up to 10 kilos of rice per week, or 40 kilos per month.

"Why block this good initiative, this good goal of the President to provide cheap rice starting in the Visayas area? Let us not stop this, let us not bar the people from buying cheap rice. This is for the people. Let us not allow our people to go hungry," she said.

Castro also criticized the vice president’s remarks suggesting that the cheaper rice might be unfit for consumption. Duterte had said Filipinos are not animals, implying that the rice may be substandard. Castro countered this, saying the P20-per-kilo rice is the same as the variety that currently sells for P33 per kilo.

"It doesn't mean that if the rice is cheap, it is for animals," she said.

"Let us not underestimate our farmers because the rice came from the local farmers. Whoever claims that the rice is for animals is underestimating our farmers who sell to the NFA (National Food Authority), to the government."

Castro further clarified that the rollout of the rice program has no connection to the recent decline in Marcos’ trust and approval ratings. She urged the public to remain cautious, warning that critics might stage deceptive stunts by pretending to be buyers and misrepresenting the quality of the rice.

Tiu Laurel announced the program following President Marcos’ meeting with the Visayas governors at the Cebu Provincial Capitol last Wednesday. The initiative will run until December but could be extended through February 2026—or possibly until 2028, according to the agriculture chief.

“Our President has given the directive to the Department of Agriculture to formulate this to be sustainable and to continue until 2028,” Tiu Laurel said.

The cost of the subsidized rice will be shouldered jointly by the national and local governments. Castro added that President Marcos wants the program included in next year’s national budget. — Philippine Star News Service/FPL (FREEMAN)