The Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) raises serious concerns over the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) recommendation of a ₱500 Noche Buena budget. While cost-saving guidance can be helpful, proposing this amount as a sufficient budget for a traditional holiday meal does not reflect the actual conditions faced by women and their families today.
Yet whether this amount is adequate is not even the most important question. The real question is: Why are Filipino families continually expected to make do with so little? Why is the burden always placed on households to “adjust” instead of on institutions to address the root causes of rising costs?
This kind of narrative does more than downplay the difficulty of preparing a holiday meal – it justifies the continued government inaction on the widespread economic insecurity affecting the majority of Filipinos. By focusing on how families can stretch ₱500, we divert attention from the far more urgent issues that demand action.
A dignified Noche Buena should not be reduced to an unrealistic benchmark. Instead of focusing on whether ₱500 can somehow cover a Noche Buena budget, the conversation should center on raising wages, ensuring price stability, and securing genuine economic security for Filipino families. These are the solutions that will allow households not just to get by during the holidays but to live with dignity year-round. #
