Vice President Sara Duterte rejected claims by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that P500 is sufficient for a Filipino family’s Noche Buena. Speaking to supporters in The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte said: “That’s not true, ma’am. It’s not true that P500 is enough for Noche Buena.” She added, “It has been a long time that P500 is not enough for a family’s Noche Buena.” Duterte also shared that her office’s own Noche Buena package, distributed during the Christmas season, is worth P2,100 and includes a spaghetti and salad pack. Her remarks came after DTI drew criticism for stating that P500 is enough for a basic Noche Buena for a family of four, based on its price guide, noting that not all families may want a lavish celebration. Malacañang backed DTI’s claim, with Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro saying the P500 budget is “doable” and that the issue is not whether it can cover a festive Noche Buena meal.
