MANGOES for dessert, a vegetarian spread, or a pot of instant noodles.
According to Kagay-anons, that is all a family can expect from the Department of Trade and Industry’s suggested P500 budget for a Noche Buena feast.
The government agency’s assertion that P500 is sufficient for the traditional Christmas Eve spread has drawn sharp skepticism from locals.
In interviews conducted Friday, Nov. 28, residents from various sectors dismissed the figure as being out of touch with market realities.
Stephanie Berganio, a media personality and cooking enthusiast, took to Facebook to break down the math.
She noted that P500 would barely cover the ingredients for a simple mango tapioca dessert, let alone a main course.
“Wala naman na mao. Nakaminos naman gyud pag ayo ang gobyerno sa mga tao. Sa 500 pesos, palihog specify pila ka tao mokaon kay kaning imong ginganlan sagol ra ni’s macaroni ug spaghetti,” Berganio said.
Meanwhile, Ruth Mae Ibañes, a mother of two from Tagoloan, suggested the budget might only be feasible if a family opts for a purely vegetarian meal.
She cited the soaring price of onions, which has hit P300 per kilogram.
“Akung maingon sa DTI unsa ilang gusto utan ang among i-handa sa Noche Buena tag P300 pa ang kilo sa bombay unsaun mana namong P500 utan na, hinoon healthy man nuon ang utan,” Ibañes said.
For Maristela Achas, a 54-year-old mother of eight, the government’s calculation was laughable. She emphasized that for a large family struggling through a difficult year, that amount would limit the menu to instant noodles.
“Sa panahon karun lisud nagyud pasiguan ang 500 labi na kung daghan mo sa imuha pamilya.. noodles-noodles nalang gyud,” Achas said with a shrug.
