The P20-per kilo rice to be sold in the Visayas is the regular variety currently being sold at P33 per kilo and not the low quality rice described by Vice President Sara Duterte as “fit only for animals,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Friday.

Castro said fake news peddlers may attempt to mislead the public by showing poor quality rice and claiming it is part of the government program.

“We’d like to issue a reminder to be cautious, as there may be efforts to sabotage the President’s P20 rice project,” she said. “People are already criticizing it even before they see anything — not a single grain of rice is out for sale yet.”

In a radio interview, National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry Lacson assured the public that the rice to be distributed through the program undergoes regular monthly testing to ensure that it meets consumption standards.

“We will not release substandard or inedible rice,” Lacson said.

He said that while NFA rice may not match the quality of imported varieties, only rice with no more than 25-percent broken grains will be distributed and any yellowing rice will be discarded.

Currently, the NFA has a buffer stock of 7.56 million bags or about 10 days of supply nationwide.

Fake news

Castro also refuted Duterte’s claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was planning to amend the Constitution, specifically its economic provisions.

In the Malacañang briefing, Castro said there have been no discussions regarding constitutional amendments.

“We haven’t heard anything from the President. That’s why we’re wondering why the Vice President made that statement,” Castro said. “As of now, [that’s] fake news. It’s an intrigue without evidence, and there have been no talks on the matter.”

Duterte made the statement during a campaign sortie with Senator Imee Marcos, the President’s sister.

When asked if Charter change might be tackled in the next Congress, Castro reiterated, “There have been no discussions.”

Castro questioned the Vice President’s bringing up the issue during a campaign event.

“Whatever her goals or intentions are behind this kind of statement, we don’t know. But as far as we’re concerned, that’s fake news,” she said.

Castro likewise addressed another claim made by Duterte — that she was related to ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro.

“That’s what’s truly disappointing. As the Vice President, she should be watching the press briefings. I’ve already clarified that issue,” she said.

Meanwhile, Vice President Duterte said she was not ready for a reconciliation with President Marcos, saying it may never happen because “the Chief Executive failed to deliver on most of his campaign promises.”

Duterte, the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, was Marcos’ running mate in the 2022 elections.

“I don’t think so because we cannot solve the problems of the country. The problem now is that there were campaign promises... and we have yet to see those promises fulfilled,” Duterte said in an interview in Tondo, Manila on Thursday evening.

“I already explained why I resigned from the Department of Education, and it was about the DepEd budget. And I was in that rally in Davao City in January 2023 where I opposed the amendments to the Constitution for the People’s Initiative. So these are legitimate issues with the administration and the government,” the Vice President said.