Palace tells candidates: Don't get involved in sale of P20/kg rice

Malacañang on Thursday called on Eleksyon 2025 candidates not to get involved in the sale of P20 per kilo of rice, which the government intends to initially roll out in the Visayas.

"Dapat po, hindi po sila involved, dapat nga po ang kanilang mga mukha ay hindi makikita sa mga tarpaulin patungkol po dito," Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing.

(They should not be involved. Their faces should not be seen on any tarpaulins about the initiative.)

"Ang pagbebenta po ng bigas sa halagang P20 kada kilo ay para po sa taumbayan, hindi po para sa mga kandidato," she added.

(The selling of P20 per kilogram rice is for the Filipino people, not the candidates.)

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

This came after a closed-door meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the 12 Visayas governors at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. Tiu Laurel said the Chief Executive wants this program to be implemented across the country in the long run.

Castro said further guidelines would be released by the DA on the selling of this P20 per kilo of rice. She said logistical matters are also being polished as the Marcos administration wants to enforce this nationwide.

"Inaayos na po ang mga maaaring issues tungkol sa logistics pero ito po ay maipapatupad po talaga nationwide. At hindi lamang po ito ang naisin at aspirasyon ng ating Pangulo, sa susunod pong taon nanaisin po natin na mabigyan po ng sapat na pondo nang hindi na rin po kakailanganin ang anumang tulong mula sa LGUs," Castro said.

(We are addressing potential issues with the logistics but this is really planned for implementation nationwide. This is not just a goal and aspiration of our President. Next year, sufficient funds will be targeted so that assistance from LGUs won't be needed.)

"So, iyan po ay bibigyan po ng pondo para po maibsan po talaga ang kahirapan sa pagbili po ng napakamahal na bigas," she added.

(So, this will be given funds so that hardships in buying rice will be alleviated.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.