Malacañang on Thursday hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte for criticizing the rollout of P20-per-kilo rice in the Visayas, urging officials to unite behind President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instead of fueling negativity.
At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said true leaders should support the country’s top official rather than criticize him, calling for an end to crab mentality and divisiveness.
Castro emphasized that the President has long aspired to make affordable rice accessible to Filipinos, and questioned why critics are resurfacing now that the program is being realized.
“Matagal na nilang sinasabing hindi kakayanin ng Pangulo ang aspirasyong ito. Ngayon na natutupad, bakit muli silang nagiging negatibo… Stop crab mentality,” she said.
The P20/kilo rice will initially be piloted in the Visayas, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. The region was chosen due to its abundant NFA rice stocks and willingness to provide subsidies, Castro added.
Governor Gwen Garcia of Cebu has reportedly backed the initiative, she said.
Vice President Duterte earlier dismissed the program as an election promise meant to prop up the administration’s senatorial bets, calling it another attempt to deceive the public.
Responding to Duterte’s remarks that the rice being sold is fit for animals, Castro clarified that the rice will be of good quality — the same variety currently sold at P33 per kilo — and will come from local farmers.
“Hindi porke’t mura ang bigas ay panghayop na agad. Kapag sinabi mong ganun, minamaliit mo ang ating mga magsasaka,” she said.
Castro also rejected claims that the rice program is linked to President Marcos’ declining ratings in recent surveys, saying the initiative had been in the works long before the numbers were released.
“Nauna pa itong napag-usapan ng DA at NFA bago pa lumabas ang survey results,” she said, adding that the Department of Agriculture will soon issue detailed guidelines for the program’s implementation.
