Palace to VP: Don't be termite, stop crab mentality

Malacañang yesterday lashed back at Vice President Sara Duterte for linking the administration's P20-per-kilo rice program to the upcoming midterm polls, saying she should shun crab mentality and avoid being a "termite" as President Marcos strives to fulfill his promise.

- ALEXIS ROMERO

The Marcos administration has announced a plan to sell rice at P20 per kilo, one of the promises made by the President during the 2022 elections.

According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the government intends to allocate P3.5 billion to P4.5 billion to subsidize the program, which will start in the Visayas region.

Duterte, Marcos' running mate and ally-turned arch critic, assailed the initiative, dismissing it as a means to boost the chances of the senatorial candidates backed by the administration.

She has also raised the possibility of the program being a "budol" or scam and the lower-priced rice being unfit for human consumption.

Speaking during a regular press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro denied that the initiative has something to do with politics, saying the administration has long aspired to provide the public access to affordable rice.

"Now that the aspiration of the President is slowly being realized, why are they speaking negatively about it? Again, the President wants cheap rice delivered to the people. The government is working to achieve this aspiration," the Palace press officer said.

"A true leader and a true Filipino should support a fellow Filipino, especially the leader of the country. They should not let crab mentality prevail and they should not be termites of society. Let us unite so the President and the government can achieve their aspirations for the people," she added.