Malacañang emphasized on Monday that the rollout of the P20 per kilo rice initiative in the Visayas is free from any political motives.
“There’s no politics here,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro during a press briefing.
The clarification comes after the Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the pilot implementation of the P20/kilo rice sale in the Visayas, a move aligned with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s broader vision to eventually offer this program nationwide.
Under the current setup, each individual can purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice per week, totaling a maximum of 40 kilograms per month.
President Marcos had long expressed his goal of bringing rice prices down to P20 per kilo, one of his major campaign promises. He said achieving this requires fixing the value chain—the complete process of producing, processing, and distributing goods, ensuring each step adds value and efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Palace also urged candidates not to involve themselves in the distribution of the subsidized rice to avoid any misinterpretations.