Filipinos Spending More Than P18.62 Per Meal is Not Poor, PSA Report Shows

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released its latest preliminary results of the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) in 2021 last Aug. 15. The figures show that the poverty incidence in the country increased by 18.1%, which is equivalent to 19.99 million Filipinos whose per capita income is below the food poverty line or a monthly income that is less than P12,030.

The PSA noted that the monthly food budget threshold or the minimum monthly budget to suffice the food needs of a family of five was P8,379. According to a calculated daily budget reported by the INQUIRER.net on Aug.22, an individual or family would not be considered “food-poor” if they spend more than P18.62 on a single meal.

This may include “two pieces of pandesal, a cup of coffee, and a glass of milk for breakfast; a cup of rice, a viand of vegetables or 50 grams of meat or fish for lunch; and a cup of rice, powdered broth, and a viand of vegetables for dinner.”

Meanwhile, labor group Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA Sugbo-KMU) called out the PSA regarding the purported discrepancies and said the poverty statistics are inaccurate, according to a report from the ABS-CBN news on Aug. 24.

AMA Sugbo-KMU Chairperson Jaime Paglinawan made a comparison between the PSA's poverty report and the 2018 estimate from the National Economic and Development Authority, which claims that “a family of five would need P42,000 per month or P1,400 per day to survive.” 

In terms of food expenditure, as of Aug. 25, the latest prices of agri-fishery commodities at NCR Markets by the Department of Agriculture (DA) show local commercial rice for regular milled at P38 per kilogram; well-milled rice at P44; premium rice at P45; and special rice at P50.

The price of milkfish (bangus) went up from P170 to P175 per kilogram, while the price of upland vegetables like Baguio beans reduced to P80 from P100 per kilogram and pechay Baguio to P60 from P65 per kilogram. Other commodities such as sugar can be purchased for P70-P100 per

kilo, depending on the variety. The price of a liter of coconut oil is P110 and P80 for a -liter of palm oil. The price of local red onions is P140 per kilogram.