Sara Duterte: Gov’t halted cheap rice program as they couldn’t deliver

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (L) and Vice President Sara Duterte. | PHOTO: PPA POOL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday claimed that the Marcos administration’s P20 per kilo rice program was halted because it was a promise they knew they could not fulfill.

Duterte made the allegation when she was asked about the program, and how it was halted a day after its rollout on Thursday.

READ: DA temporarily halts P20/kilo rice program, to resume on May 13

“Hindi talaga nila kaya na ibigay nang totoo ‘yung P20 ang kilo ng bigas,” Duterte said in a chance interview in Zamboanga del Sur.

(They really can’t genuinely provide rice at ₱20 per kilo.)

“Kaya nila tinigil ‘yan kasi alam talaga nila na hindi talaga nila kaya ibenta. Sinubukan nila na mag-promise na naman ulit, na alam nilang hindi nila kayang ibigay,” she added.

(They stopped it because they knew they really couldn’t sell it. They tried to make that promise again, even though they knew they couldn’t deliver it.)

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that it would be temporarily halting the cheap rice program until May 13, or after the 2025 elections, which it said was in respect of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia’s advice.

READ: Comelec: DA has not yet sought clarification on P20/kilo rice project

DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said they had already requested clarification from the Comelec on whether it can continue with the program, but they have yet to receive a response.

“Still no reply, which means the DA will comply and we will not sell until the elections are over,” he added.

He also assured the public that the DA has enough rice supply for the program until December at 370,000 metric tons or 6 million bags of rice.