DAGUPAN CITY — Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates on Friday defended the Marcos administration’s rollout of P20 rice against allegations of election timing, saying government aid should not be withheld just to avoid political criticism.

“Ganoon talaga. Whatever timing it is, kahit last year pa ‘yan, sasabihin konektado sa eleksyon,” former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said during a press conference ahead of a grand campaign rally in this city.

Sotto added: “You will never be able to please everyone. The important thing is you do what is right—and do it. Ganoon. For the benefit of the people, whether there is an election or not.”

Makati Mayor Abby Binay rejected the notion that the timing of the rollout was suspicious, even as it comes ahead of the May 2025 midterm elections.

“Sasabihin mo ba sa mga tao, after the election na lang ako magbibigay ng murang bigas kasi sasabihin na namumulitika ako? Hindi naman ho ganoon ang trabaho ng gobyerno,” she said.

“Kung maibibigay mo na ngayon, ibigay mo na. Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin na maghihintay ako ng magandang timing,” she stressed.

“Tumutulong na ‘yung gobyerno, pinipintasan pa rin. Saan ba tayo lulugar? Ang hirap ng posisyon na ‘to,” Binay added.

Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson made his point brief and clear: “Kapag tinutulungan mo ‘yung [mahihirap] at gutom, nothing is too late, nothing is too little. Gutom ‘yan at kahirapan. ‘Yun lang.”

Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos also defended the initiative, saying it was a long-standing commitment of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and not a spur-of-the-moment move to gain political favor.

“Maganda ang intensyon ng Pangulo, at matagal na niyang mithiing gawin ito. Ngayong naisakatuparan, binabatikos pa rin. Talagang nagkataon lang,” Abalos said.

ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said the public had long been waiting for the promised P20 rice and emphasized the need to review the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) to ensure the long-term sustainability of affordable rice.

“Matagal nang naniningil ang taongbayan. Pinag-aralan ito noong ako pa’y nasa Gabinete,” said Tulfo, who once served as President Marcos’ Social Welfare Secretary.

“Ngayon na naisakatuparan, may nagsasabi pa ningas-kugon. The best way to sustain this is to review the RTL,” he said.

Tulfo criticized the RTL for limiting the National Food Authority’s (NFA) ability to intervene in the market, particularly in selling affordable rice directly to the public.

“Pinigilan ng RTL ang NFA na magbenta sa palengke. Kaya wala ka nang makitang NFA rice,” he said.

“Ang NFA, sa batas ngayon, pang-emergency buffer lang. Pero kung ibenta mo agad ang binili nila sa farmgate, walang aalingasaw, walang discoloration,” he added.

Tulfo argued that with the right policy reforms and government subsidies, even the middle class can benefit—not just the poorest Filipinos.

“Why don’t we subsidize rice the way we subsidize other forms of ayuda? Para lahat makatikim—pati middle class—ng murang, maputi, at mabangong bigas. Hindi ‘yong kapag mura, may amoy at hindi maganda,” he said.

The Alyansa ticket is also composed of Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Lito Lapid, former Senator Manny Pacquiao, Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino, and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco