MANILA — Malacañang reframed the controversy surrounding Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque’s P500 noche buena remark, asserting that the real issue is the government’s effort to keep essential goods from becoming more expensive — not dictating how much Filipino families should spend for Christmas dinner.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said criticism over the statement had “missed the essence” of what the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was trying to illustrate.
“Ang pinag-uusapan lamang po sa P500 ay kung kaya. Maski na po ang isang eksperto katulad po ni Steve Cua ng Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc. ay nagsabi rin po at umayon sa DTI,” Castro said, stressing that the demonstration merely showed that low-cost options exist for households already struggling with high food prices.
Castro insisted the DTI never suggested families restrict their noche buena preparations to P500.
“Ang pinag-uusapan po dito ay kung kaya. Iba po ang usapin na dapat mas marangya, mas festive kapag pinag-uusapan natin ang handaang Pamasko,” she said.
The Palace spokesperson emphasized that the controversial P500 sample menu was presented in the context of the DTI’s ongoing negotiations with manufacturers to keep costs stable during the holiday season.
“Iyon lang po ang issue ng DTI at that time dahil ang DTI po ipinagmamalaki po nila na ang mga manufacturers ay nakausap nila na huwag magtaas ng presyo hanggang katapusan ng December,” Castro noted.
She appealed to the public to understand the broader point behind the message.
“Sana ay hindi po nila ma-miss iyong pinaka-essence kung bakit sinasabi po ng DTI na kakayanin ang P500 dahil po napakiusapan po nila na huwag magtaas ng presyo para sa mga basic commodities – iyon lamang po iyon,” she maintained.
Roque’s earlier statement — that a family of four could prepare noche buena for P500 — sparked widespread backlash, with many online users saying the budget would barely cover ingredients for a basic meal, much less a festive feast.
While the DTI argued that ham, pasta, and spaghetti sauce remain purchasable within that amount, critics countered that such a menu would be sparse and far from a traditional Christmas spread.
Castro, meanwhile, emphasized that the administration’s efforts to ease holiday and year-round burdens are “much broader” than the debate over Christmas dinner costs. She cited programs such as Kadiwa stores, the P20-per-kilo rice initiative, and the “Walang Gutom” food voucher program.
“Alam natin hindi lamang sa halaga ng P500 nagwawakas ang gusto ng Pangulo para maiangat ang buhay ng Pilipino,” she said./PN
