Malacaรฑang stepped into the ring on Monday, backing the Department of Trade and Industryโs claim that โฑ500 can cover a basic Noche Buena, despite Filipinos online calling the estimate unrealistic at best and insensitive at worst. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said critics were missing the point, insisting the DTI was merely assessing feasibilityโnot dictating how families should celebrate Christmas.
Castro stressed that the agencyโs statement was anchored on its ongoing request for manufacturers to hold off price hikes until the end of December. โThe question was whether itโs doable under current price controls,โ she said, echoing the DTIโs argument that not all households mark Christmas with a lavish spread. The trade agency maintains that simple Noche Buena staples for a family of four still fall within the โฑ500 limit based on their price guide.
But the Church is not on board. Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos fired back, warning the government not to โsteal the spirit of Christmasโ from struggling families. He said that reducing Noche Buena to a โbudget challengeโ ignores rising prices and the sacredness of the tradition. โIt is abundance of faith, not scarcity imposed by neglect,โ Santos said, adding that officials should focus on clamping down on hoarding, smuggling, and corruption instead of prescribing unrealistic holiday budgets.
Santos also tied the issue back to public frustration over the ongoing flood control scandal, urging leaders to fix systemic problems before lecturing families on thrift. While he encouraged the faithful to keep Christmas meaningful even with a simple meal, he reminded officials that compassionโnot detached pronouncementsโshould shape public service.
Screenshot from RTVM