Vice President Sara Duterte has criticized the recent launch of the P20 per kilo rice program, calling it a delayed move that seems more about election politics than genuine public service.
In a spontaneous interview during her visit to Tondo, Manila, Duterte responded to remarks made by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, who suggested that public officials should support the President instead of criticizing him.
Duterte, however, stood firm.
“It’s not criticism — I’m simply telling the truth,” she said. “That P20 rice was a campaign promise, and now it’s only being implemented during election season.”
She added that the pilot implementation in the Visayas — where support for President Marcos Jr.’s candidates is reportedly weak — seems politically motivated.
“Too little, too late,” she repeated, noting that the move comes as the country gears up for another election cycle.
Earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that rice will be sold for P20 per kilo in the Visayas, with future plans to expand nationwide. He assured the public that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has enough rice stocks and buyers will be allowed up to 10 kilograms per week.
But Duterte wasn’t convinced, even hinting that the government might be offloading low-quality rice just to fulfill a political promise.
Malacañang swiftly responded, saying the initiative is part of the President’s long-standing vision and not just a pre-election strategy.