THE MINDANAO Alliance for Progress (MAP) says that the statement of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Aldeguer Roque — claiming that a P500 budget is enough to prepare a Noche Buena for a family of four — reflects a deeper problem of persistent poverty in the country.
The social advocacy group asserts that the issue is not about what P500 can afford, but the everyday struggle of Filipino families to put food on the table.
“The real issue is not the Noche Buena itself. It is the fact that many Filipinos remain so poor for the rest of the year that even a modest Christmas meal becomes a benchmark for what is considered ‘acceptable,’” MAP coordinator Mayet Valdez said.
MAP noted that wages have long failed to keep up with inflation, and families are increasingly forced to stretch meager incomes just to cover basic needs. For them, the debate over P500 symbolizes a bigger question about the quality of life.
“When wages are not enough, when monthly budgets never catch up with rising prices, and when families are forced to make do with less day after day — how can we say that one night of food, no matter how simple, is enough?” Valdez said.
MAP is urging the government to reframe the discussion, saying the issue is not about whether P500 can buy ham, spaghetti, and bread for Christmas Eve, but whether Filipino households can truly celebrate the season without hardship.
