Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday warned the public against 'fake news' regarding rice distribution circulating online. In a Facebook post, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. debunked announcements promising free rice aid to all hog raisers affected by low live-weight prices.
According to Philippines News Agency, at least two fake quote cards featuring photos of Tiu Laurel were posted on social media to spread the misinformation. The false announcements claimed that rice would be distributed to hog raisers suffering losses due to low hog prices. '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),' the Agriculture Secretary stated. He further clarified, 'Hindi ito nagmula sa akin (This did not come from me).'
Tiu Laurel then urged the public to be cautious when accessing information on the internet. '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 advised. He emphasized the importance of verifying announcements through the agency's official channels to ensure the accuracy of information being disseminated.
