Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday said the department is "deeply hurt" by remarks made by Vice President Sara Duterte questioning the quality of rice to be sold at P20 per kilo under the government's program.

"With all due respect to the Vice President, the Department of Agriculture (DA) family is deeply hurt by her suggestion that NFA rice to be sold is 'hindi pang tao, pang hayop’," said Laurel, who also chairs the NFA Council.

He emphasized that the agency is “fully committed” to delivering quality rice to the Filipino people, saying, “At the DA, they cook and eat NFA rice every day,” and that they can vouch for its quality and safety.

Moreover, the Agri chief said that calling NFA rice "animal feed" is an “affront to the quality of rice our millions of hardworking farmers produce.”

“This is false. We are proud of the quality of Filipino rice,” he added.

Vice President Duterte on Wednesday criticized the DA’s goal of selling rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas, which she called a vote-rich region. She further implied that the selection of the region may be strategic for electoral gain.

“Well, I don't know what their motive is. Maybe, yes, they are again fooling the people with P20 per kilo of rice," she said in Filipino.

Laurel, on the other hand, called on Duterte to set aside political differences and work in unity with the DA.

"We urge the Vice President to join us in this noble endeavor. This initiative is for the Filipino people—whom we have all sworn to serve. Their well-being must remain our highest priority," he said.

The DA earlier announced that it would begin selling rice at P20 per kilo, starting in the Visayas, with plans to eventually roll out the program nationwide.

Laurel assured the public that the DA has stocks of rice that can be sold at P20 per kilo, noting that purchases will be capped at 10 kilograms per week, or 40 kilograms per month.