NEDA’s suggestion that 21 pesos per meal per day is enough is completely absurd.
For those who missed the topic of conversation in the second and third weeks of August, it is the absurd statement by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) that you cannot “food poor” if you can afford to spend PHP 64 – PHP 21 for three square meals – per day.
This obviously significantly lowers the definition of poverty in the Philippines. The lower the threshold, the more the government can limit possible assistance such as support or the possibility of further price controls.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), even a government apologist could see how ridiculous this calculation is. I wouldn’t even be surprised if the people at NEDA themselves knew how absurd this claim is, as they are fully aware that this is just propaganda to claim that everything is fine in the Philippines.
But for those who don’t really think about it – or simply don’t realize how bad the situation is when it comes to being able to afford food – let’s do a quick math.
A kilo of rice, the staple food that actually fills our bellies, does not cost anywhere near 21 pesos or half of it in any quality, so you have to sacrifice most of your supposed budget of 64 pesos to buy a kilo
First, it is not sustainable to spend 21 pesos on a meal. One kilo ricethe staple food that actually fills our bellies doesn’t cost anywhere near 21 pesos or half of that in any quality, so you’ll have to sacrifice most of your supposed budget of 64 pesos to buy a kilo. Assuming you’re only self-feeding and eating rice at every meal (with such a low budget, you should), a kilo will probably last you two or three days. That means that in order to prioritize rice, you’ll be giving up a few ulam, which will already make you starve at this point.
Speaking of Ulam, what do you get with only P64 a day? It’s probably enough for one or two small doses Sardines or tuna or a couple of eggs per meal. Or you can opt for instant noodles, a light, filling dish that is technically affordable at 21 pesos per meal.
But just because you could, of course, doesn’t mean you should. Propaganda sellers will tell you that you may survive on a tight budget, but that is not real life, and if you have too much of it, you are not living at all. Most of us already know that Processed foods contribute greatly to poor healthand they should be consumed in moderation or, if possible, avoided altogether.
Whether it’s instant noodles or canned food, too much of it is slowly eroding the livelihoods of our poor because it’s often the only choice they have. And needless to say, anyone who isn’t rolling in cash – and maybe even some who are – are already feeling the impact of rising prices for basic foodstuffs.
The suggestion that a life of canned and processed foods is acceptable makes a mockery of the right to a decent life – and anyone who agrees with this shows no consideration for their fellow human beings.
It’s odd that NEDA only considers hunger and satiety as a measure of nutrition. What’s the point of being full and avoiding hunger when the food you eat is slowly poisoning you anyway? Last time we checked, nutrients and actual nutrition were still important to keep people alive.
Quality ingredients like meat, fish and vegetables cost much more than this budget, and to suggest that it is acceptable to live on canned and processed food makes a mockery of the right to a decent life – and anyone who agrees with this has no regard for their fellow human beings. The choice should not be between starvation or poisoning.
The solution is simple: admit that food is expensive and then do what is necessary to bring prices down. Suspend VAT, raise wages, regulate prices to counter inflation. We should not have to sound the alarm and say that there is no need to lie to people and insult their intelligence. People know when they are not eating well anyway.
