Claim: P500 is enough for your Noche Buena budget
Rating: LACKS CONTEXT
Facts: The official Facebook page of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines Consumer Protection or “DTI Consumer Care’ posted an infographic a week ago about “Noche Buena Budget Shopping” which only costs less than P500. While the post was quickly deleted, many Facebook users were quick to take a screenshot of the infographic to provide dissent against the vague infographic. https://www.facebook.com/globaldailymirror/posts/1334563347320035
The research that DTI executed for this infographic was unscientific and unspecific. It does not recognize common factors like family size, transportation fares, price parameters, or even basic ingredients and seasonings.
DTI only accounted for six items in their shopping list which included American Ham, Pandesal, Pasta, ⅛ kg. of Ground Pork, Cheese, and a Fruit Cocktail which all summed up to P488.
We did our own price check and came out with these:
La Trinidad, Benguet supermarket/market prices
American Ham 500g — P163
Pandesal 250g — P30
Cheese 200g — P54.50
Spaghetti 800g — P71.50
Spaghetti sauce 1kg — P141.75
Pork giniling 1/8kg — P42.50
Fruit cocktail 822g — P90.50
Kremdensada 410g — 58.50
Total: P652.25
Online prices
American ham 500g — P164 to P175 (Lazada and Shopee/ without delivery fee)
Pandesal 250g — P23 to P27.5 (https://mb.com.ph/…/initial-p2-price-hike-in-pinoy…/)
Cheese 200g — P38 to P52 (Lazada and Shopee/ without delivery fee)
Spaghetti 800g — P95 to P102 (Lazada and Shopee/ without delivery fee)
Spaghetti sauce 1kg — P86.93 to P219 (Lazada and Shopee/ without delivery fee)
Giniling 1/8 kilo — P42.50 (https://mangluloys.com/products/pork-giniling…)
Fruit cocktail 822 g — P56.10 to P87 (https://puregold.com.ph/…/CANNED…/subcat/CANNED%20FRUITS)
Kremdensada 410ml — P45 (https://www.homeshop.ph/condensed-milk/)
From these, we came up with a minimum total price of ₱550.53 without delivery fees. The maximum would take us to ₱750, again without the various delivery fees.
Ingredients like garlic, onions, MSG, salt, pepper, etc. were not included in the budget. In the last few months, the Philippines was recognized as the country with the most expensive onions despite being an agricultural country. Prices would reach up to P300/kg for red onions.
Why we fact-checked this: During the season which should signify bounty, DTI decided to release a narrative on how Filipinos should endure poverty. Aside from being unscientific and vague, the infographic also downplays the economic and socio-economic issues that our country is facing.
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