Can you survive on P64 a day?

The Philippines’ food-poverty threshold of P64 ($1.12) for three meals a day is not that far from the international poverty line of $2.15 (approximately P123) a day, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Monday.

The National Economic and Development Authority earlier said the monthly food threshold for a family of 5 is at P9,581 (US$167.46) or about P20 (US$0.35) per meal.

Various groups have denounced the NEDA statement, saying the P320 (approximately US$5.59) daily food budget for a family of 5 is too low.

Bernadette Balamban, chief statistical specialist of the Philippine Statistics  Authority poverty and human development statistics division, said the P64 per person food-poverty threshold is based on the national average of food prices in 2023. 

She said the Food and Nutrition Research Institute has a recommended “food bundle” that meets the recommended energy and nutrient intake of Filipinos to maintain health and well-being. 

The FNRI recommended menu for the National Capital Region includes the following:

Breakfast - Scrambled egg, Coffee with milk and boiled rice

Lunch - Boiled monggo with malunggay, banana latundan and rice

Dinner - Fried tulingan, boiled kangkong, boiled rice and pandesal

Balamban noted the food poverty threshold for NCR is slightly higher P361 a day or P72 per person. 

She also noted the food-poverty threshold takes into account that the meals are cooked at home instead of buying ready-made meals.