Yummy Asks: Kasya Ba Ang P18 Sa Isang Kainan?
How reasonable is the Philippine Statistics Authority when it claims that a meal costing P18 is enough? For many netizens, it was a laughable factoid that resulted in many saying that lugaw (without even an egg!) seasoned with only salt or asin was all that meager amount could buy! Some suggested an egg (P7) with pandesal (P7.50) meal, pancit canton (P7.73 average SRP), or even pandesal all meals, every day!Â
In case you don't know, the PSA released a statement last August 15 about the poverty index of the Philippines for 2021. It stated that an average family of five (5) needs about P8,379 on average per month to meet their basic food needs.
That's P18+ per person per meal.Â
How was P18 per meal calculated? Here is the math:
P8,379Â divided by 30 days (average days in a month) = P279.30 per dayÂ
P279.30 divided by 5 members of an average family = P55.86 per personÂ
P55.86 per person divided by 3 meals a day = P18.62 per mealÂ
It should be noted that this is the poverty threshold and that those who can only spend this much for their food needs are considered to be poor.Â
We asked you what you thought about this announcement of the PSA:Â
Here's what some of you had to say about this interesting yet disheartening statistic from the PSA and the P18 meal:Â
It was a toss-up whether these Facebook users were sarcastic or optimistic regarding the P18 limit.Â
Those who do not have access to clean water noted the price of bottled water would not be covered if you only had P18.Â
Others thought of those who work, stating prices of karinderya food were way beyond the P18.Â
Finally, there were those who were curious how to make a menu that would fit P18 per meal.Â
 
How do you feel about this announcement and do you think you can eat a decent meal with only P18?Â
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