P500 for family noche buena? Here's how according to DTI

Five hundred pesos may be enough for a family of up to five to prepare for noche buena, the Filipinos traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

According to Bernadette Reyes' report on "Balitanghali," this may be possible by buying bundled items at groceries and checking the price guides released by the Department of Trade and Indsutry.

“Kailangan talagang maging wais ang consumer. Sa price guide, we encourage na konsultahin nila. Tumingin ng bundled products kasi makikita mo ang savings,” said DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo in Reyes’ later report on “24 Oras.”

(Consumers should be practical. We encourage them to consult with the price guide and look for bundles because they will save a lot.)

A sample computation showed that P500 would be enough for a fare of spaghetti, fruit salad, bread, cheese, and ham.

Castelo made the remarks after the country’s inflation soared to a 14-year high of 8.0% in November.

Further, the DTI official said there will be a looming price hike next year but the increase in the prices of the affected products will not be simultaneous. 

“Almost all food items na nasa inflation basket, agricultural products. We communicated with the [Department of Agriculture] papaano kami makaka-assist sa kanila,”  Castelo said.

(Almost all food items in the inflation basket are agricultural products. We communicated with the DA on how we can assist them.) —Sundy Locus/NB/BM, GMA Integrated News