Aiko Melendez Leads Public Outcry Against DTI’s Controversial P500 Noche Buena Package
AIKO MELENDEZ – Award-winning actress and Quezon City councilor Aiko Melendez has joined the chorus of frustrated Filipinos, publicly challenging the DTI’s assertion that a simple Christmas feast can be prepared for just P500.
Aiko Melendez has added her voice to the increasing number of Filipinos criticizing the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) highly debated P500 Noche Buena package. The proposal has drawn massive backlash across social media, with many questioning how a Filipino household could realistically prepare a traditional Christmas Eve meal using such a small budget.
For several days, netizens—along with well-known personalities—have been calling out the DTI for suggesting that families can still create a simple Noche Buena spread for only P500. The criticism intensified after DTI Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque once again defended the agency’s claim, asserting that Filipino families are still capable of celebrating the holiday despite soaring prices of goods.
“The Noche Buena celebration or Noche Buena handa will depend on the number of family members or even extended relatives that will be joining the Noche Buena celebration,” Roque explained, attempting to justify the recommendation. Instead of easing public discontent, her statement further ignited online frustration, with many Filipinos arguing that the suggested amount is unreasonable given today’s prices of essential Christmas food items.
Aiko Melendez, unable to hold back her reaction, released a strongly worded response on Facebook addressing Roque’s remarks. As both a public official and a veteran actress, she openly expressed her belief that the proposal shows a disconnect from the real struggles of ordinary families.
“P500 Noche Buena package?!!! Saan po makakabili niyan? Wag n’yo pong insultuhin ang mga Pilipino. Naku po. Queso de Bola? Holen size po ba ito?” she posted, using humor and sarcasm to emphasize how unrealistic the suggestion is. Her comment quickly spread online, capturing the sentiments of many who feel that the government should be more sensitive to the financial challenges faced by Filipinos, especially during the holidays.
With the controversy showing no signs of slowing down, the P500 Noche Buena debate has evolved into a broader conversation about inflation, shrinking purchasing power, and concerns that policymakers may be out of touch with the day-to-day realities of Filipino families preparing for Christmas amid economic difficulties.
READ ALSO: DTI Secretary Christina Roque Insists P500 Noche Buena Budget Is Possible