NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Chairman Acidre To Voters: Let's Not Forget P70 Per Kilo Rice Under Pinol
Photo credit: Congress PH
Just a quick reality check from House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman Jude Acidre: remember when rice prices soared to nearly P70 per kilo? That was during the time of former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.
In a statement on Wednesday, Acidre reminded the public to look back at that period before putting their trust in Piñol again—especially now that he’s aiming for a comeback as governor of North Cotabato.
“During Secretary Piñol’s tenure, rice prices rose to levels that placed a heavy burden on many Filipino families,” Acidre said. “It’s important to remember that history, especially when public trust is being sought again.”
He pointed to the rice crisis in 2018, where retail prices in Metro Manila hit around P46 to P48 per kilo—up by about 14% from the previous year. That same month, inflation peaked at a 9-year high of 6.7%, hitting poor households the hardest.
Interestingly, this reminder comes just as Piñol has been criticizing the Marcos administration for the country’s P16.63-trillion debt. But Acidre didn’t let that slide either. He fired back, noting that the Duterte administration—which Piñol was part of—racked up P7.2 trillion in loans in just six years. For context? That’s more than what all past presidents combined borrowed from Quezon to Aquino III.
Acidre also took a swipe at some eyebrow-raising proposals during Piñol’s time, like the idea of legalizing rice smuggling in parts of Mindanao—Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. And let’s not forget the 2017 bird flu outbreak response, where the Department of Agriculture had to cull hundreds of thousands of poultry, shaking local livelihoods.
Then there’s the controversial Recto Bank incident in 2019. Acidre brought up how Piñol was accused of pressuring fishermen into changing their statements during a closed-door meeting. Some human rights advocates even called it a cover-up.
“Trust is built not just on words, but on actions and outcomes,” Acidre said. “Voters have every right to review past performance and ask the necessary questions.”
His message is simple: when someone wants your vote, it’s only fair to take a long, hard look at their record. After all, the past speaks volumes.
In a statement on Wednesday, Acidre reminded the public to look back at that period before putting their trust in Piñol again—especially now that he’s aiming for a comeback as governor of North Cotabato.
“During Secretary Piñol’s tenure, rice prices rose to levels that placed a heavy burden on many Filipino families,” Acidre said. “It’s important to remember that history, especially when public trust is being sought again.”
He pointed to the rice crisis in 2018, where retail prices in Metro Manila hit around P46 to P48 per kilo—up by about 14% from the previous year. That same month, inflation peaked at a 9-year high of 6.7%, hitting poor households the hardest.
Interestingly, this reminder comes just as Piñol has been criticizing the Marcos administration for the country’s P16.63-trillion debt. But Acidre didn’t let that slide either. He fired back, noting that the Duterte administration—which Piñol was part of—racked up P7.2 trillion in loans in just six years. For context? That’s more than what all past presidents combined borrowed from Quezon to Aquino III.
Acidre also took a swipe at some eyebrow-raising proposals during Piñol’s time, like the idea of legalizing rice smuggling in parts of Mindanao—Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. And let’s not forget the 2017 bird flu outbreak response, where the Department of Agriculture had to cull hundreds of thousands of poultry, shaking local livelihoods.
Then there’s the controversial Recto Bank incident in 2019. Acidre brought up how Piñol was accused of pressuring fishermen into changing their statements during a closed-door meeting. Some human rights advocates even called it a cover-up.
“Trust is built not just on words, but on actions and outcomes,” Acidre said. “Voters have every right to review past performance and ask the necessary questions.”
His message is simple: when someone wants your vote, it’s only fair to take a long, hard look at their record. After all, the past speaks volumes.
Apr 16, 2025
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
