MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang assured the public that the Commission on Audit’s (COA) adverse audit opinion involving the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) would not affect the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Department of Agriculture (DA) had confirmed that FTI already responded to the audit findings concerning Php 5.43 billion in allegedly unsubstantiated trust liabilities.

According to Castro, FTI submitted its Agency Action Plan and Status of Implementation on September 29, 2026, to address the concerns raised by state auditors.

“Nasagot na ng FTI ang adverse opinion ng COA sa pamamagitan ng Agency Action Plan and Status of Implementation na sinumite noong September 29, 2026,” Castro said, citing information from the DA.

She emphasized that the audit issue would not disrupt the distribution and sale of rice under the administration’s affordable rice initiative.

“Hindi po ito makakaapekto sa pagbibigay at pagtitinda ng 20 pesos kada kilo na bigas,” she added.

The Palace did not provide additional details on whether COA had formally accepted FTI’s response or revised its audit opinion.