Government warns electoral contenders against exploiting P20/kg rice program for personal advantage
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HEADS UP TO VISAYAS CANDIDATES: STAY AWAY FROM THE P20 RICE SALE
On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Malacañang Palace issued a stern reminder to candidates for the upcoming elections in the Visayas region. They were advised to steer clear of the upcoming sale of P20 per kilo rice, set to roll out the following week.
Claire Castro, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary, stated in a press conference, "They shouldn't be involved. Their faces shouldn't be seen on tarpaulins related to this matter."
She further elaborated, "The sale of rice at P20 per kilo is exclusively for the people, not for the candidates."
Castro expressed confidence that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would scrutinize the situation to ensure fairness and transparency.
On Wednesday, April 23, Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the subsidized P20-per-kilo rice program, which was planned to be piloted in several Visayas provinces the following week.
The administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who promised to lower the price of rice to P20 per kilo during his 2022 campaign, is currently studying ways to implement the program nationwide.
However, it's essential to note that Comelec has exempted the P20/kilo rice program from election spending bans only if no candidates are present during distribution. The Omnibus Election Code’s 45-day spending ban, which applies to most government projects, does not exempt this rice subsidy, but it is exempt under specific conditions to prevent misuse for campaigning.
The Malacañang has not explicitly commented on candidates' potential involvement, but it emphasized the Department of Agriculture’s authority to implement the program, initially targeting Visayas as a testbed. The Palace also urged candidates to "not violate the law" and prioritize public welfare amid election activities.
Meanwhile, Comelec is actively countering false claims linking voter information sheets to political petitions, reflecting broader efforts to insulate voter education from partisanship. Additionally, concerns regarding poll-related violence remain in 36 red-category areas, although the numbers have reduced from 38.
Sources:
- TPM - The Marcos administration is studying ways to implement nationwide the P20 per kilo rice program
- Comelec exempted the P20/kilo rice program from election spending bans if no candidates are present during distribution
- The Marcos administration emphasized the Department of Agriculture’s authority to implement the program, initially targeting Visayas as a testbed
- Comelec countering false claims linking voter information sheets (VIS) to political petitions
- Comelec's efforts to insulate voter education from partisanship and safety measures amid poll-related violence concerns
- The upcoming elections in the Philippines, particularly those in the Visayas region, are set to occur in 2025, and candidates have been warned to stay away from the P20 per kilo rice sale.
- The administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is studying means to implement the P20-per-kilo rice program nationwide, a policy that was a promise during his 2022 campaign.
- Candidates should be cautious not to be seen on tarpaulins related to the P20 rice sale, according to Claire Castro, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary.
- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is vigilant in ensuring fairness and transparency in the implementation of the P20/kilo rice program, with a focus on preventing any misuse for campaigning.
- In the larger context of politics and policy-and-legislation, the Malacañang Palace and Comelec are both actively working to maintain the integrity of the elections and general news reporting, countering false claims and addressing concerns regarding poll-related violence.
