Gov’t should keep mum on ‘noche buena’ budget
While it is possible to prepare a “noche buena” for just P500, the suggestion only showed how detached from reality some government officials are, the head of a supermarket group said on Monday.
“They are investigating billions of pesos pocketed by government officials then someone from the President’s Cabinet says people should make do with P500,” Steven Cua, president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, told the Inquirer.
The suggestion came from Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, who said last week that it was possible for a Filipino family to prepare a noche buena meal for P500 based on the computation of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Citing the DTI price guide, she noted that there were noche buena options for a family of four ranging from P374.50 to P526.95.
For Cua, citing the DTI price guide only emphasized the disconnect between the government and reality. “They are out of touch if this is based on their price guide. The instructions for the price guide even come from them,” he said.
Roque’s comment drew a lot of flak from labor groups and lawmakers who described it as an “insult” to Filipino workers.
Cua said the government should concentrate on rebuilding business confidence and strengthening local industries instead of suggesting a fixed budget for Christmas meals.
“They should just keep quiet and think of ways to increase the productivity of industries,” he added as he noted the lack of road maps or even a five-year plan.
Cua noted that the recent corruption scandals have weakened confidence among both retailers and consumers, threatening what should be the peak season for sales during the holidays.
“Business confidence and consumer confidence are down because of all these hearings of corruption in government,” he said. “It doesn’t result in demand. People are tightening their belts, especially those who make money.”
“There is belt-tightening because they don’t know if cash will flow in as smoothly and as regularly come the new year,” Cua explained.
Effect on retailers
According to him, this uncertainty could also affect the pricing and quantity of holiday bundles offered by supermarkets. While upscale retailers may absorb the impact, most retailers serving mass-market communities will struggle, he said, adding: “This will be felt by the majority who sell to the masses nationwide.”
Malacañang, however, insisted that a P500 noche buena budget for a family of four was enough despite criticisms.
“What we are talking about is simply whether it is doable,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a briefing on Monday.
“It’s a different discussion altogether when we talk about having something more lavish or more festive for a Christmas celebration,” she added.
Castro even quoted Cua as saying that P500 would be enough to buy the staple viands for a noche buena. —WITH A REPORT FROM DEXTER CABALZA
