Sec. Roque insists P500 Noche Buena budget enough

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque insisted that P500 is sufficient for a family of four to celebrate Noche Buena, based on current prices of basic holiday goods.

Addressing rising public opposition to her claim, Roque said, “The Noche Buena celebration… would depend on the number of family members or extended relatives that would be joining.”

“The P500 is for a mother, father and two children,” she added.

The budget for the traditional Noche Buena was based on DTI’s Noche Buena price guide: – Christmas ham (P170); – spaghetti (P78.50: P30 for noodles and P48.50 for sauce); – macaroni salad (P152.45: P40.95 for noodles, P55 for mayonnaise and P56.50 for cheese); fruit salad (P98.25: P61.75 for fruit cocktail and P36.50 for all-purpose cream); and pandesal (P27.75 for 10 pieces) All add up to a total of P526.95.

Roque said a simple feast of ham, spaghetti, macaroni salad and pandesal will bring the cost down to P428.70. The change of around P72 may be spent for luncheon meat (P41) and corned beef (P34). 

The prices are in DTI’s basic commodities list.

Those opting for fruit salad instead of macaroni, meanwhile, will spend an even lower P374.50 with P125 left over for other items.

Roque was heavily criticized on social media for the P500 Noche Buena budget. Legislators said P500 would be enough “if you travel back in time.”