MANILA, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks that will be released to local governments will not be used for electioneering, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said on Wednesday, February 19.
“What we’re doing is giving our people the access sa murang bigas,” Zamora said in a press conference on Wednesday. “Wala naman hong anumang pamumulitika, ‘di naman namin ilalagay mga pangalan o mukha ho namin sa mga sakong ito.”
(What we’re doing is giving our people access to affordable rice. There is no politicking here, we will not put our names or faces on these sacks.)
This follows the Department of Agriculture’s declaration of a food security emergency on rice, allowing them to sell NFA rice to local governments at P33/kilo. So far, the DA has agreements with the Metro Manila cities of San Juan, Navotas, and Valenzuela, and with the province of Camarines Sur. The food emergency was intended to dispose of NFA rice stocks in warehouses before harvest season starts. It is also meant to drive down rice prices in the market.
Zamora, head of the Metro Manila Council, said metropolitan mayors have already discussed the possible misuse of NFA rice for election campaigns.
“Kung sino man ang gagamit niyan sa politika, ‘wag ‘nyong iboto (Whoever will use that for politics, don’t vote for them),” he said.
Around 150,000 sacks of NFA rice are allotted for distribution to Metro Manila cities, said Zamora.
The Metro Manila reelectionists for the 2025 midterm polls, aside from Zamora, are Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco, Caloocan Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan, Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian, Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, Mandaluyong Mayor Ben Abalos, Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Parañaque Mayor Eric Olivarez, and Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon.
The campaign period for candidates running for posts in the House of Representatives and local governments is from March 28 to May 10.
While the Commission on Elections does not prohibit the selling of NFA rice through LGUs during the campaign season, it prohibits the use of public funds for social services, housing projects, as well as the distribution of cash aid.
The DA will release 150,000 metric tons of rice from NFA warehouses, where 300,000 metric tons are currently in storage.
San Juan City is holding a pre-registration on Thursday, February 20, for residents who want to buy NFA rice. The city will roll out 1,000 sacks initially, selling at P33/kilo.
– Rappler.com