By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte’s criticisms of the rollout of PHP20-per-kg. rice in the Visayas, accusing her of sowing division and undermining the administration’s efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, speaking at a press briefing in Malacañang, defended the program, a key campaign promise of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and called out Duterte’s remarks as an example of “crab mentality” at work.
“Ang tunay na lider — at tunay na Pilipino — ay dapat sumusuporta sa kapwa Pilipino, lalung-lalo na sa pinuno ng bansa (A true leader — and a true Filipino — should support fellow Filipinos, especially the leader of the country),” Castro said.
“‘Wag sanang pairalin ang crab mentality at huwag maging anay sa lipunan (Let’s not allow crab mentality to prevail, and let’s not be termites in society),” she continued.
The Palace official questioned why critics are still “being negative” now that the President’s aspiration to provide affordable rice to the people is now being realized.
“Magkaisa tayo para matupad ang mga aspirasyon para sa taumbayan (Let’s unite so that we can fulfill the aspirations for our people),” Castro said.
On Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced the rollout of the PHP20/kg. rice in Visayas following a Cebu closed-door meeting between Marcos and 12 governors in the region.
Under the program, indigent Filipino families are eligible to buy the PHP20/kg. rice up to 10 kg. weekly or a total of 40 kg. every month.
The program will be implemented nationwide once logistical challenges are addressed, according to Malacañang. (PNA)
