Cebu pilots sale of rice at P20/kilo

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The Department of Agriculture launches the pilot sale of P20/kilo rice in Cebu, but the rollout faces election-related restrictions

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) pilot tested the sale of rice at P20 per kilo at the Cebu provincial capitol on Thursday, May 1. However, the full implementation of the program has been reset to after May 13.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the opening ceremony with Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, and other local officials.

“Mula dito sa Cebu, sa Gitnang Visayas, sisimulan natin ang ipapatupad na pilot test ng programa kaya lang matutupad lang natin eto pagkatapos ng eleksyon,” Laurel said. 

(Here in Cebu, in Central Visayas, we will start the pilot test for the program but we will only be able to accomplish this after the elections.)

As of posting, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has banned the distribution of government aid during the campaign period up to the election day or from May 2 to 12. Local government units (LGUs) are also not allowed to participate in the program pending approval from the state poll body.

According to the agriculture secretary, the DA sought clarification from the Comelec on whether or not the program could be exempted from the ban.

In Bacolod City, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that the commission has asked the agriculture secretary to temporarily cease the rollout of the P20/kilo rice between May 2 and 12.

Different opinion

When asked why the P20/kilo rice was still able to push through at the Cebu Provincial Capitol despite the prohibition for LGUs, the Cebu governor explained that she had gotten the permission of the Comelec chairman to proceed with their program.

“I asked for clarification from chairman George Garcia himself and he said those are the conditions but since Cebu has an existing Sugbo Merkadong Barato, for which we did ask for an exemption, it’s already an existing program,” the Cebu governor said.

Laurel said that the DA had a “different opinion” on the clarificatory letter sent to them from Comelec.

“Base sa huling usapan ng aking chief-of-staff sa Comelec, ang sagot nila baka pwede after election na lang,” Laurel stated.

(Based on the last discussion with my chief-of-staff and Comelec, their answer is that perhaps, it can just be after elections)

For the meantime, the agriculture secretary explained, only Kadiwa centers are allowed to sell the P20/kilo rice on May 1 but from May 2 to 12, both the DA and LGUs will be barred from selling the rice.

“Unfortunately, the Comelec’s position is different from ours. To play it safe, it’ll just be on May 13,” Laurel said.

Based on data from the DA, the provinces of Southern Leyte, Siquijor, Bohol, Iloilo, and Cebu have applied to participate in the agency’s P20/kilo rice sale program. – Rappler.com