VP Sara Duterte Says P500 Budget is Not Enough for Noche Buena Meal
Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed her opinion on DTI’s claim that families can prepare a Noche Buena meal with only P500.
During her visit to The Hague in the Netherlands, supporters asked her about the statement made by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Christina Roque, who earlier said that ham, macaroni salad, and spaghetti could fit the P500 budget.
Duterte disagreed with the idea. She explained that the amount is no longer enough for a family’s Noche Buena celebration, noting that prices have been increasing for years. She emphasized that even basic holiday dishes now require a bigger budget.
“Hindi totoo ‘yun ma’am. Hindi totoo na kasya na ang Noche Buena sa 500 pesos, “Matagal na, na hindi kasya ang 500 pesos para sa Noche Buena ng pamilya,” Sara said.
The Vice President mentioned the Noche Buena packages her office distributes every Christmas. These bundles, which contain spaghetti and salad ingredients, already cost around P2,100, far from the suggested P500 budget.
“In fact, ‘yung sa amin na pinamimigay kapag Pasko, nasa P2,100 na ‘yun, spaghetti and salad pack,” she added.
Sara shared this to show how challenging it has become for families to prepare complete meals during the holiday season.
Earlier, Malacañang defended the DTI’s statement, saying it may still be possible to prepare a humble Noche Buena with careful planning. However, Duterte’s comments portray the reality many families face when dealing with higher prices of goods.
Aside from the discussion on holiday expenses, the Vice President also talked briefly about her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. She said they had a meaningful conversation about politics and current events and described the day as a good one.
It comes after the International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber denied the former president’s request for interim release. His family has publicly accepted the decision calmly. When asked about her father’s response, Duterte said he had not brought up the matter during their conversation.
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