MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino is not considered "food poor" or struggling with food if they can afford to spend ₱64 or more to meet three meals in a day, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
This was stated by NEDA Chief Arsenio Balisacan when Senator Nancy Binay asked how they classify "food poor" during a Senate panel on Finance.
"As of 2023, a monthly food threshold for a family of five is ₱9,581, which comes out to about ₱64 per person," Balisacan said.
When Senator Binay clarified if this referred to three meals in a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), the NEDA Chief answered yes, which means that ₱20 or 21 is allotted for each meal.
Next question to him: Is ₱20 enough for a meal for one person? The NEDA chief answered, "The value of that basket has been adjusted for inflation, so that actually reflects the adjustment for inflation, but we'll be revisiting it.”
“I think it's time to revisit our poverty threshold because it's been quite a while. It's been more than a decade since it was set. I think the changes in the economy warrant a revisit of the threshold."
Balisacan further explained that the cost of meals per day might rise to ₱67 in 2024 to consider someone as not being food poor, depending on inflation.
Many netizens reacted to this, saying that it seems NEDA is not up-to-date with the reality of daily food expenses for Filipinos.
One of them is Senator Risa Hontiveros, who said that NEDA's statement on the matter seems insulting.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
