₱500 NOCHE BUENA ALLOWANCE CRITICIZED BY LAWMAKERS, SECTORAL ORGANIZATIONS

Lawmakers and sectoral groups criticized the DTI’s claim that ₱500 is enough for a Filipino family’s Noche Buena, calling it out of touch with rising prices.

They argued that even basic ingredients for spaghetti, ham, and cheese already exceed the proposed budget, making a proper Christmas meal difficult for many families.

Rep. Antonio Tinio and youth group Kabataan condemned the suggestion as tone-deaf, saying it normalizes poverty while public funds are misused.

Farmers’ group KMP challenged officials to try preparing Noche Buena with ₱500 themselves, highlighting how disconnected the government is from real market costs.

Critics stressed that inflation and rising food prices make the ₱500 recommendation unrealistic for celebrating Christmas or the New Year properly.

Source: PhilNews24 | November 29, 2025