Comelec: DA has not yet sought clarification on P20/kilo rice project
Workers stack up 47,000 sacks of rice at the NFA warehouse in Baguio City on April 9, 2025. — Photo by EV Espiritu/Inquirer Northern Luzon
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has not yet sought clarification from the Commission on Elections if the P20 per kilo rice project will be exempt from the total 10-day poll spending ban, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Wednesday.
This is what Garcia answered when asked if the P20 rice project would be exempted from the total 10-day poll spending ban.
The Comelec prohibits the distribution of any kind of ayuda, except for medical or burial assistance, from May 2 to May 12, 2025, under Comelec Resolution 11060.
READ: National sale of P20/kg rice still lacking Comelec approval
“Hindi pa po natin pinag-uusapan ang bagay na ‘yan sapagkat hindi naman po naclarify sa hiningi nilang exemption. So titignan natin yan kung yan ay pwedeng makasama sa mga hindi covered ng 10 araw sapagkat ito ay regular ng programa naman ng Department of Agriculture,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.
(We haven’t discussed it yet because [the DA] did not clarify that in their exemption. So we will see if we can include that in the exemption of the 10-day [ban] since it is a regular program of the Department of Agriculture.)
The Comelec has granted the request of the DA to exempt the rice project worth P5 billion from the provision of Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the disbursement of public funds 45 days before the elections.
However, the Comelec maintained that no politicians or candidates must be present in the selling of the P20 per kilo rice.
Garcia also reiterated the following conditions: (1) the selling of rice must be done in public places; (2) media, civil society organizations, and interest groups must be given unrestricted access in the selling; and (3) local government units (LGUs) that will avail the rice project shall request exemption from the Comelec.
Under the P20/kilo rice project, the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) will buy rice from the National Food Authority at P33 per kilo and sell it to LGUs at P20.
The P13.00 will be subsidized by the FTI and LGUs.
Garcia explained that as the subsidy is considered as an “ayuda,” the LGUs must request for exemption as the DA and National Food Authority only applied for the exemption of the P20 rice per kilo project.
Garcia also explained that as the DA will sell the rice to LGUs at P33, the LGUs will subsidize P13. Therefore, he added that the LGUs must request for exemption as the DA and National Food Authority only applied for the exemption of the P20 per kilo rice project.
Garcia said that the chief executive and officials of the LGU who are candidates in the elections can face an election offense or possible disqualification from the elections if they fail to ask for an exemption for the rice project.
READ: Comelec exempts DA’s P20 rice project from poll spending ban
Suggestion
Meanwhile, Garcia suggested that the rice project be continued after the May 12 elections, following its rollout on May 1, Thursday.
“Ako po ay may suggestion. Tutal sampung araw, kung magbebenta tomorrow nang mas mura, at least okay na po yun. Nag-roll out na. Ang sunod na roll out pwedeng after the election para di masabing ito ay ginagamit sa pamumulutika,” Garcia noted.
(I have a suggestion. Since [the ban] is 10 days, if the selling or rollout starts tomorrow, it will suffice. The next rollout can happen after the elections to avoid assumptions that it is being used for politics.)
When asked if the P20 rice project will be exempted from the total 10-day spending ban, Garcia said that it depends if it will be in the form of “ayuda.”
“Kasi if it is in the form of ayuda, absolutely prohibited yan sa 10 araw na nakalatag sa resolution natin. Kung yan naman ay isang programa, halimbawa ng Department of Agriculture, hindi na kailangang ihingi pa sa amin ng exemption doon sa 10 araw,” Garcia answered in a separate interview.
(Because if it is in the form of ayuda, it is absolutely prohibited 10 days [before the elections] based on our resolution. If that is a program, example of the Department of Agriculture, they don’t need to ask for an exemption from the 10-day [total spending ban].)
He also said that it can be considered “ayuda” if it helps constituents in the form of free or cheaper goods. He added that the poll body was able to determine where the DA will get its budget for the rice project.
The DA is planning to launch the rice project in Visayas on Thursday. Meanwhile, Garcia said that they will monitor the initiative.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Tuesday that if the clarification is not possible, they will follow what the Comelec says and will start selling after the elections.
Tiu Laurel said that the DA is still waiting for the Comelec’s decision on whether the selling of rice via Kadiwa centers will fall under the election ban.
