Daven Tamayo

Palace condemns 'sabotage attempts' on P20/kilo rice program

Sacks of well-milled rice are unloaded during a ceremonial turn-over of NFA Rice by the Department of Agriculture to LGUs as part of the Food Security Emergency on Rice on February 19, 2025 at the NFA Warehouse in Valenzuela City. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

20250219-NFA-ceremonial turnover

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

Malacanang on Friday condemned attempts by &quot;fake news peddlers&quot; to undermine the government’s planned rollout of P20 per kilo rice in Visayas.In a Palace briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro cited a certain video that claimed that the cheap rice being sold is of very poor quality. The Palace official earlier warned that groups may attempt to sabotage the government’s program through such moves.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/25/nfa-says-rice-buffer-stock-up-amid-summer-harvest-season-1446">NFA says rice buffer stock up amid summer harvest season </a></div>“Mayroon po tayong nakitang isang vlog or post. Panoorin po natin ito. Iyong pinakasimula po nito. So ito po, habang hinihintay natin iyong video na maipalabas—okay. Ang ibig daw sabihin nito ay parang “Nguyain ninyo, inyo na iyan.” Pinapakita po iyong halaga na bente pesos na ang pinapakita sa taumbayan ay ito ang bigas na sinasabi sa proyekto ng Pangulo. Unang-una po, that’s fake news, disinformation,” Castro said.She clarified that the government has yet to begin making P20/kilo rice available in local markets, as officials still has to release guidelines for its rollout.“Hindi pa po nasisimulan ang paglabas ng bigas na ibibenta sa market at sa Kadiwa patungkol po dito sa proyektong ito. Hindi pa nga nakikita, wala pang nakikitang bigas na ibibenta, pinipintasan na, pinipintasan na na panghayop. Sinabi na rin po ni Secretary Laurel ang pagkadismaya niya sa statement na ito ng Bise Presidente,” she said.<div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHV5WwdWncc">Malacañang slams Sara Duterte for criticizing rice program</a></div>“So muli, tandaan po natin, mga kababayan ko, ang kagustuhan po ng Pangulo ay makapagbigay ng magandang serbisyo sa inyo. Huwag po nating hayaan ang mga ganitong klase ng pananalita ay makasira hindi lamang sa Pangulo kung hindi sa buong bansa. Hindi pa po nagro-roll out itong mga ibibentang bigas. Hintayin na lang po natin kapag natapos na po iyong guidelines at nailabas na po ito, at saka natin maipapakita kung ano ba ang magiging resulta para sa mga kababayan natin lalo na kapag nasa laylayan ng lipunan.”

Malacanang on Friday condemned attempts by "fake news peddlers" to undermine the government’s planned rollout of P20 per kilo rice in Visayas.

Malacanang on Friday condemned attempts by "fake news peddlers" to undermine the government’s planned rollout of P20 per kilo rice in Visayas.