Is NEDA’s P64 daily food budget unrealistic?
In the recent 2025 budget briefing at the Senate, NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that a Filipino daily food budget costs P64 per day. But is it accurate?
According to the Philippine Statistic Authority, the food threshold of P64 per day is based on this sample menu and is based on “science”.
The Opinions of Filipinos
However, a lot of Pinoys disagree with this statement. Many believe that NEDA needs to do better research on how Filipinos budget their meals, given that inflation and other factors like electricity and transportation affect their daily food budget.
In a TikTok video made by user @sandfernandoeli, he interviewed a karinderya attendant and asked for their opinion on whether P64 is enough for a daily food budget:
“Ang itlog, P15, ang kanin, may P15, may P20. Edi nasa P30. Tapos tatlong beses. Sa tingin mo kaya mong kainin yung ganun lang ng isang araw?”
Sen. Imee Marcos expressed: “Pumunta lang kayo sa palengke, tignan niyo yung pagkain. Yung presyong P91.20, anong mabibili niyo?! Pagkain pa lang yun ah, wala pa yung pamasahe, wala pa yung pabahay, yung utilities mo, edukasyon ng bata, gamot.. damit..”
“Sa totoo lang, hindi grounded itong NEDA at hindi alam ang reyalidad. Tinanong ba nila ang mga nanay sa laungsod o sa mga baryo kung magkano ang gastos nila sa pang-araw-araw lalo na sa pagkain. Hindi P21 kada meal o P64 kada araw dahil triple ang laki nito sa sobrang mahal ng mga bilihin.” -Cathy Estavillo, Amihan Secretary General
“Hindi sapat ang P20 per meal na budget para makakuha ng sapat na nutrisyon sa pagkain.” -National Nutrition Council
RELATED: P1000 Weekly Food Budget: Is It Enough?
Rethinking the True Cost of Living
Given the widespread criticism, it’s clear that NEDA’s claim doesn’t match the reality many Filipinos face. The gap between official numbers and everyday life shows the need for a more accurate way to measure food poverty. As living costs rise, it’s important to update these standards to better reflect what people really need.
