Palace to Sara Duterte: Huwag pairalin ang crab mentality

Malacañang on Thursday hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte for criticizing the selling of P20 per kilo of rice in the Visayas region.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said true government leaders should support the highest official of the country instead of making criticisms.

''Sana po sa mga lider, ang tunay na lider at ang tunay na Pilipino ay dapat sumusuporta sa kapuwa Pilipino lalung-lalo na sa pinuno ng bansa. Huwag sanang pairalin ang crab mentality at huwag maging anay sa lipunan. Magkaisa tayo para matupad ng Pangulo at ng pamahalaan ang mga aspirasyon para sa taumbayan,'' she said.

Castro pointed out that it has long been the aspiration of the President to sell P20 per kilo of rice, and she is questioning why criticisms are being thrown at the time that Marcos' goal is starting to come to fruition.

''Unang-una po, matagal na po nilang inisyu na mukhang hindi kakayanin ng Pangulo ang aspirasyon na magkaroon at mag-deliver ng bigas sa halagang bente pesos kada kilo. Ngayon po na unti-unting natutupad ang aspirasyon na ito ng Pangulo bakit muli na naman silang nagsasalita, nagiging negatibo?'' she said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has announced the implementation of the sale of P20 per kilo of rice, which will be piloted in Visayas.

Laurel said President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. wants this program to be implemented across the country in the long run.

For her part, Duterte deemed this action as an election promise meant to boost the chances of the Marcos administration's senatorial candidates.

Duterte said the government was again trying to fool the people with the promise of rice at P20 per kilo.

Why Visayas?

Castro also responded to the query why Visayas was chosen as the pilot area for the implementation of the P20 per kilo of rice. She said Laurel had mentioned that there are a lot of stocks of rice in the region.

Visayas region is also willing to cooperate when it comes to providing subsidies, she added.

''Unang-una po, nasabi po sa atin ni Secretary Kiko Laurel na kaya po Visayas unang-una po, maraming stocks po ang NFA sa nasabing lugar at sila po ang naunang nagsabi ng pakikipag-cooperate sa Pangulo sa pagbibigay po ng subsidiya kaya po nauna po ang Visayas area, ito rin po ay pinatotohanan po ni Governor Gwen Garcia,'' Castro said.

Castro also said that the rice, which will be sold at P20 per kilo, is of good quality following the statement of Duterte that those rice could be fed for pigs.

''Hindi porke't po mura ang bigas sasabihin na panghayop ang nasabing bigas. Liliwanagin lamang po natin, ang ibebentang bigas ay iyong bigas po na nabibili ngayon sa halagang 33 pesos. So, huwag po nating maliitin ang mga farmers natin dahil local farmers po manggagaling ang bigas na ito,'' she said.

''Kapag po sinabi ninuman na ito ay panghayop na bigas ay minamaliit po natin ang mga farmers natin na nagbebenta po sa NFA, sa ating gobyerno,'' Castro said.

Survey

Castro also said the selling of the P20 per kilo of rice should not be linked to the recent survey showing a significant decline in the trust and performance rating of Marcos for the month of March.

She stressed that the implementation of this rice price does not have any connection with the survey results. 

''Wala po. Dahil bago pa po nagkaroon kung anumang survey rating ang napapakita ngayon, noon pa po ito pinag-uusapan. Nakasama po ako minsan sa isang pribadong meeting para po dito, para ipatupad po ang bente pesos kada kilo na bigas,'' Castro said.

''Nauna pa po ito napag-usapan ng DA, ng NFA bago pa po lumabas ang mga survey ratings na iyan,'' she added.

Castro said the DA would release further guidelines on the selling of the P20 per kilo of rice. —AOL, GMA Integrated News