Public warned vs. fake rice aid posts

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has warned the public against false social media announcements claiming that the government is distributing free rice to hog raisers affected by low live-weight prices.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. debunked the claims in a Facebook post, saying at least two fake quote cards bearing his photos had been circulated online to promote the misinformation.

“Hindi totoo ang kumakalat na pahayag tungkol umano sa pagbibigay ng bigas sa naluging hog raisers dahil sa mababang presyo ng baboy (The circulating statement on the alleged release of rice to hog raisers affected by low hog prices is false),” he said.

“Hindi ito nagmula sa akin (This did not come from me).”

The agriculture chief urged the public to exercise caution when accessing and sharing information online, particularly announcements involving government assistance.

“Hinihikayat ang lahat na huwag agad maniwala o magbahagi ng mga post na walang malinaw at beripikadong pinagmulan (We urge everyone, do not immediately believe or spread unclear posts without verified sources),” he said.

Tiu Laurel also advised the public to verify government announcements through the DA’s official communication channels before believing or sharing them.

The warning comes as hog raisers continue to face challenges from weak live hog prices, making false claims of government assistance potentially misleading to producers seeking financial or food support.