BOCAUE, Bulacan —SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, a senatorial candidate under the Duterte-backed PDP-Laban, criticized the Marcos administration’s P20-per-kilo rice program, calling it a “political stunt” ahead of the upcoming elections and questioning the quality and sustainability of the initiative.
Speaking in an ambush interview at the Philippine Arena during his Miting De Avance, Marcoleta told reporters that the timing of the pilot rollout in the Visayas was suspicious.
“Sinabi na yan ng nakaraang eleksyon e, totoo na ba yan o dahil sa eleksyon? Anong quality ng bigas ang ibibigay? Makakain ba ng tao o pagkain lang ng itik?” he said.
“Sinong maniniwala doon, P20 pesos? Anong klaseng bigas ‘yon? Yung timing, kahit high school maiintindihan na ito ay ginagamit dahil sa eleksyon. Nakakaawa ang ating mga kababayan, pati ba naman ‘yung bigas gagamitin mo pampulitika. Mabubuksan ang kanilang isipan dahil diyan," he added.
Last month, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that rice priced at P20 per kilo — a 2022 campaign promise of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — would be sold in select areas in the Visayas as part of a pilot implementation.
Laurel said the government has adequate stocks for the program and that purchases will be limited to 10 kilos per week per person, or 40 kilos per month.
However, Marcoleta pointed out that such interventions are not a real solution to poverty and will only harm farmers in the long run.
“‘Yan ay pantulong lang sa emergency situation. Pantulong lang kapag may nangyaring emergency. Pero hindi yan hakbang, hindi yan ang sagot, hindi yan ang paraan para ibangon mo ng isang pamilya mula sa pahirapan. Talagang kailangan ibangon mo ang ekonomya, pasiglahin mo, paunlarin mo para maka-create ka ng maraming trabaho,” he said.
He added that the program could send the wrong message to farmers already struggling with low farmgate prices.
“Hindi yan ang signal ng mga magsasaka. Babagsak nanaman ang farmgate price ng palay. Ngayon nga ay luging-lugi na tapos ganiyan pang senyales ang ibibigay sa kanila. Kaya hindi ko na alam kung saan papunta itong bansa natin.”
Vice President Sara Duterte previously expressed frustration over the program, calling it “too late.” The rollout also raised concerns among critics who said it may not be economically viable or fair to rice producers.
GMA News Online is trying to get the Palace's reaction and will post it once available.
Meanwhile, Marcoleta was tight-lipped when asked about Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent endorsement of Senate candidates Camille Villar and Imee Marcos.
"Wala akong comment," he said.
Despite not weighing in on the matter, Marcoleta expressed hope that VP Sara would join the PDP-Laban’s remaining sorties to lend support to the party's campaign.
“Sana dumaan siya sa mga rallies namin,” he said, reflecting on the significance of having the Vice President in attendance to rally behind PDP-Laban's message.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
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