BIZ BUZZ: Nothing personal, just business

MANILA, Philippines – No political bias nor color will influence the implementation of the government’s subsidized rice program in many parts of the Philippines, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“Here at the DA, we have no political colors. We are doing our job for the Filipino people. That is the directive of our President—to assist those who are in need, regardless of their political color,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said during the Malacañang press briefing on Monday.

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Tiu Laurel made the assurance amid lingering concerns over whether some local government units will continue implementing this program after the midterm elections, especially those that elected new officials.

Case in point is Cebu, where the “Benteng Bigas Meron na” program was first launched early this month.

For context, the DA signed an accord with outgoing Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to sell well-milled rice at P20 per kilogram under this project.

“Now, there are winners, there are losers, of course, like in Cebu, there’s still a question of whether or not the new governor will continue the program,” he added.

With all the local government shakeups and whatnot, one thing is for sure: the DA will stop at nothing to sustain P20 per kilogram rice project.

Tiu Laurel said the DA was scheduling meetings with local officials including incoming Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro and finalizing the schedule to roll out the initiative in other parts of the archipelago. —Jordeene B. Lagare INQ