By CESAR JOLITO III
Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co criticized the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) assertion that a Filipino family can prepare a noche buena meal with only P500, calling the claim “out of touch” with the current economic reality.
“Why does our government have that perception? Are they really that out of touch with the needs of our citizens?” Co said before thousands gathered at the Trillion Peso March at the Bacolod Public Plaza on Sunday, November 30.
Co urged national agencies to “land on the ground” and witness first-hand the rising cost of basic goods.
“They need to join us at the market to buy ingredients because it’s unacceptable that the cost of living continues to rise while the salary is very low,” Co said.
Meanwhile, the DTI and the Local Price Monitoring Council of Bacolod City continue to conduct daily price monitoring of supermarkets and groceries.
When asked to clarify the agency’s P500 noche buena statement, DTI-Negros Occidental trade development specialist Engiemar Tupas said they had been instructed not to issue further comments.
The debate over the affordability of noche buena items comes as Filipino families brace for holiday expenses amid persistently high food prices — a concern that protest organizers say reflects the broader burdens carried by ordinary citizens.
On Sunday, at least 2,500 individuals from various sectors — including church groups, laborers, farmers, youth organizations, and climate advocates — participated in the protest.
The demonstration was led by the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance-Negros, the Diocese of Bacolod, the One Negros Ecumenical Council, and the Katipunan ng Kabataan Laban sa Korapsyon.
The event coincided with the nationwide commemoration of Bonifacio Day, amplifying the themes of people’s struggle, accountability and economic justice.
The rally formed part of the broader Trillion Peso March movement pushing for accountability over alleged large-scale corruption, including controversies involving ghost and anomalous infrastructure projects./CJ, WDJ