Malacañang on Thursday reiterated that the ₱20-per-kilo rice from the Department of Agriculture is neither of poor quality nor meant only for animals.
In a press briefing, Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro of the Palace Press Office clarified that the rice to be sold at a lower price is the same variety currently sold for ₱33 per kilo.
"Hindi porket mura ang bigas, sasabihin na pang-hayop ang nasabing bigas," said Castro.
"Liliwanagin lang po natin, ang ibebentang bigas ay ang bigas po na nabibili ngayon sa halagang ₱33," she added.
Castro further stated that this is why the government needs to provide a subsidy, which will be shared between the national government and the local government units (LGUs).
The Palace made the statement in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s remark, implying that the government’s low-cost rice could be of animal-grade quality.
Moreover, the Palace official stressed that selling rice at a lower price does not mean it is unsafe or unfit for human consumption.
She highlighted that the rice must not be underestimated, given that it is sourced from the harvests of Filipino farmers.
"So huwag po nating maliitin ang mga farmers natin dahil [sa] local farmers po manggagaling ang bigas na ito," Castro stated.
"Kapag po sinabi ninuman na ito ay pang-hayop na bigas, minamaliit po natin ang mga farmers natin na nagbebenta po sa NFA, sa ating gobyerno," she firmly added.
Meanwhile, Castro warned of potential sabotage by "fake news peddlers" who may pose as buyers, in an attempt to discredit the quality of the rice.
