Can you eat three meals a day on P64?
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro asked this question to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials during deliberations on its proposed 2025 budget on Wednesday in connection with data from National Economic Development Authority that Filipinos who can spend P64 and above on food for three meals in a day are within the threshold before being considered “food poor”.
“Ano ‘yung comment mo doon sa P64 pesos na sinasabi ng NEDA na sa ngayon may P64 pesos ka lang [sa isang araw], non-food-poor ka na. Ano ba ‘yung mabibili from among the consumer goods na P64 pesos in a day na sasapat sa isang tao?,” Castro asked DTI Undersecretary Amanda Nograles.
(What can you say about what NEDA said? What can we buy with P64 that will be enough for one person’s meals for a day?)
Nograles responded by saying “Base po sa ating monitoring ng mga suggested retail price, halimbawa po ang sardinas, P15 to 20 pesos po ang isang lata ng sardinas. Halimbawa po, ang tinapay po, P2 pesos po yung isang pirasong pandesal: Yung tinapay nga po, hindi po tayo nag-approve ng mga price adjustment.”
(Based on our monitoring of suggested retail prices, for example, a can sardines goes for around P15 to 20. For bread, a pandesal is two pesos per piece. There are no price adjustments on bread yet.)
“Pero po as to the exact number, Ma’am, depende po. Kasi kami po sa DTI, hindi po tayo nag-i-impose. Malaya po ang consumer mamili kung ano po yung kailangan nila sa pang-araw-araw na bilihin,” Nograles added.
(But it really depends. We don’t impose on the consumers on what they should buy based on their needs.)
Nograles also noted that a certain brand of instant noodles at 55 grams is worth P7.75, while a three-in-one coffee at 18 grams is worth P4.10.
Nograles also added that evaporated milk can be added to the mix.
“Ang gatas po, ang Evap po natin, pumapatak po ng P44 pesos po ‘yung 410 ml. Pero hindi naman po siya mauubos, makukonsumo ng isang araw,” Nograles said.
(For milk, a can of evaporated milk at 410 ml. is worth P44, but it won’t be consumed within a day.)
Castro lamented such options are unhealthy and that Filipinos should not live their lives, dietary speaking, in such a manner.
“Kung ganito ‘yung pagtaya ng gobyerno, ng executive department…sa tingin niyo ba, masustansya itong mga pagkain na to? Kung lalagyan ng mga gulay-gulay, so, ‘yung 64 pesos sa isang tao, ay hindi yan magkakasya,” Castro said.
(If this is how the government, the executive department measures things… In your opinion, since you mentioned these food items, do you think these options are healthy? If they will add vegetables, the P64 for each person won’t suffice.)
“Let’s get real here. P64 is not enough, given [these food items] you can buy with that budget,” Castro said.
“What can we even buy with P64? ‘Yan, ano ba yung mabibili natin sa 64 na yan? Egg? If you buy sugar, your money won’t be enough at that point. We should find ways to reduce food prices so our people can eat healthy food,” Castro pointed out.—RF, GMA Integrated News
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