Palace open to deferring start of P20/kg rice project
National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Western Visayas (Region 6), located in Jaro, Iloilo. —Photo courtesy of PTV Cebu
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is open to the proposal of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to delay the implementation of the sale of rice at P20 per kilogram in the Visayas and in Kadiwa stores due to the ban on election spending 10 days before the May 12 polls.
“If that is the suggestion and policy of the Comelec chair [George Erwin Garcia], then we will be open to that,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro told reporters on Wednesday.
Although the Comelec exempted the program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) from the 45-day prohibition on the disbursement of public funds before Election Day, it was not clear if the sale of cheaper rice stocks was also exempted from the election spending ban from May 2 to May 12.
READ: National sale of P20/kg rice still lacking Comelec approval
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the project would be deferred until after Election Day if they fail to secure the approval of Comelec. The DA has yet to receive any notice from the poll body as of this writing.
Under the rice program supposed to be launched on May 1, households in the Visayas can purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice per week or 40 kg a month.
Starting May 2, those in the vulnerable sectors—indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities—can purchase up to 30 kilos a month from Kadiwa centers.
10-day pause
Garcia suggested on Wednesday that the DA temporarily halt the implementation of this initiative until after May 12, or when the 10-day total ban on election spending is lifted.
This means that the lower-priced rice will be rolled out on May 1 as promised by President Marcos—but the project might be paused for 10 days until after Election Day.
“I have a suggestion. Since the ban is for 10 days, if the sale of lower-priced rice starts on Thursday, that’s okay for a rollout. The next rollout can be after the elections to avoid speculation that it will be used for politicking,” Garcia said.
