Vice President Sara Duterte said on Thursday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s implementation of the P20 per kilo of rice in Visayas is by now, “too little, too late.”
“Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo sa P20 per kilo na bigas. Dahil that is a campaign promise and its a little too late siya at magtataka ka kung meron tayong bente pesos pero kilo na bigas bakit sa Visayas lang ito i-implement? Eh nakita natin mahina yung mga senador ng administrasyon there in Visayas,” Duterte told the media in Tondo, Manila.
The P20 per kilo of rice was a campaign promise of Marcos in 2022.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced on Wednesday that rice will be sold at P20 per kilo with the program starting in Visayas.
According to the vice president, that campaign pledge is insufficient and overdue to fulfill at this time.
She added that its currently being tested in the Visayas where Marcos’ candidates have low rankings.
“Its a campaign promise yung P20 per kilo na rice and ngayon lang inimplement na panahon ng eleksyon, sabi ko nga too little too late to comply with the campaign promise at para lang din sa isa pang darating na election sa lugar, sa Visayas kung saan mahina ang numero ng mga kandidato ni BBM,” Duterte said.
The vice president also reacted to the remarks made by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro that genuine government leaders ought to suppprt the nation’s top official rather than engage in criticism.
“Hindi yan sa pagiging mapagpuna nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo,” the vice president said.
