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Residents avail themselves of the National Irrigation Administration’s ‘Murang Bigas sa NIA’ sold at P29 per kilo at the NIA main office in Quezon City yesterday. The P29 per kilo rice program will continue while the P20 per kilo rice project will be deferred until after the May 12 midterm polls.
Michael Varcas
MANILA, Philippines — The distribution of any form of financial aid or “ayuda” – even those earlier granted with exemptions – is no longer allowed, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded all government agencies.
“We are once again reminding all agencies that were granted exemptions: even if your ayuda program is exempted (from the election ban), it is now prohibited,” Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco said in Filipino over “Storycon” on One News yesterday.
He cited the previous condition set by the Comelec on exemptions granted to ayuda programs: distributions are prohibited 10 days before the May 12 elections or starting May 2.
Laudiangco said only “emergency” aid may be released, such as for medical and burial services.
“These are part of emergency services and not aid,” he added.
He warned those who will violate the election ban may face administrative and criminal charges. Those running for office may also face disqualification.
The total ban includes the sale of the subsidized rice at P20 per kilo, which the government launched on May 1 in the pilot area of Cebu.
Laudiangco said that the existing government program of selling affordable rice at Kadiwa stores had previously received an exemption from the election ban.
P29/kilo rice
The P29 per kilo rice program will proceed despite the 10-day election ban of the Comelec, a ranking official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Friday.
The statement came after Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the full rollout of the P20-per-kilo rice project would be deferred until after the May 12 midterm polls.
At a press conference, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for agribusiness, marketing and consumer affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the P29 rice program in Kadiwa stores has an existing exemption from the Comelec.
“We have an exemption even before the 10-day ban, including other existing projects available in our Kadiwa centers,” Guevarra added.
According to Guevarra, at present, at least 1,000 families benefit from the P29 per kilo of rice sold at each Kadiwa site.
Guevarra added that starting May 13, the P29 per kilo rice in the Kadiwa outlets will be lowered to P20 per kilo.
At least 19 Kadiwa centers will start to sell P20 per kilo of rice on May 13.
“Based on the directive of Secretary Tiu Laurel, as well as the statement of (Comelec) Chairman (George) Garcia as to our P20 (per kilo rice) selling, we best would want to defer it after elections and will start on May 13 to be exact, to prevent issues regarding the implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice project because of the 10-day ban on ayuda,” Guevarra added.
“We will still use the same guidelines for the P20 program where the limit will be 30 kilos per family,” she said. “We are anticipating the increase in the number of those who will avail of the P20 program.”
DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the government has assured the public of the implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice project until the end of 2025. The Office of the President has allocated P4.5 billion for the subsidy and another P500 million for logistics. — Janvic Mateo, Bella Cariaso
