A fresh round of criticism erupted on Friday after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that families could assemble a basic Noche Buena spread with a budget of only ₱500. The remark drew sharp reactions from legislators who argued that the estimate ignores the strain of high consumer prices.
Akbayan Party-list Representative Perci Cendaña was among the first to call out the agency. In a social media post, he remarked, “Kasya yan if you travel back in time! Habang nalulunod sa taas-presyo ang ating mga kababayan, nakakainsulto ang mga ganitong paandar.” He stressed that DTI has been repeating the figure since 2022, even as families struggle to stretch their holiday budgets.
Cendaña added that the estimate seemed more suited to a fictional household than to Filipino families facing inflation. “Baka dun sa imaginary family ng DTI nag-OOMAD sila for the holiday season,” he said, urging the administration to push for a ₱200 wage increase so workers can celebrate the holidays with dignity.
The statement also prompted a sarcastic response from Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, who questioned how such a budget could realistically feed a family for Christmas Eve. “Sa anong planeta kasya yung P500 para sa Noche Buena ng pamilyang Pilipino? Sa planeta ni Kokey,” he said.
The dispute followed an interview in which DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said that families could buy items like ham, pasta, and ingredients for macaroni salad or spaghetti within a ₱500 budget, noting that total expenses would still depend on how many people would be sharing the meal.
