Five hundred pesos

By Alex P. Vidal

“The lack of money is the root of all evil.”—Mark Twain

SOME lawmakers, including individuals “hurt” by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque’s claim that a Filipino family can prepare a “noche buena” meal for only P500 were overacting when they “denounced” the trade secretary.

“What kind of Christmas would that even be? A few noodles, eggs, water? This is a slap on the face of every Filipino struggling to make ends meet,” screamed a “hurting” member of the House of Representatives.

We can always agree, but we don’t need to be disagreeable; we can disagree, but must we “denounce” someone only because we disagree with them?

We can always give suggestions and tell the DTI secretary we don’t believe the amount is sufficient for the noche buena, then we can explain why. That’s a healthy debate.

We don’t believe Aldeguer-Roque’s remarks were “unrealistic and insensitive amid high food prices and persistent economic strain” as what some lawmakers had said. We just need to listen to the other side of the coin and open the market for a free-willing discussion over the subject matter.

The DTI boss suggested three noche buena bundles that can be purchased for under or near P500 and can serve a family of four citing prices from her agency’s guide.

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According to Aldeguer-Roque, one bundle costs P374.50, with Christmas ham (P170 for 500 g), spaghetti sauce (P48.50), spaghetti noodles (P30 for 250 g), fruit cocktail (P61.75 for 432g), all-purpose cream (P36.50 for 110 ml), and “pan de sal” (P27.75 for 10 pieces).

She pointed out that another option is priced at P428.70, with Christmas ham (P170), spaghetti (P78.50), macaroni salad (P152.45), and pan de sal (P27.75). Serving both macaroni salad and fruit salad would total P526.95.

The DTI secretary said these options were based on typical Filipino holiday viands. Some items, she said, may even cost less when bought as part of bundled promotions.

Under the DTI’s noche buena price guide, the prices of ham range from P170 to P945; fruit cocktail, from P61.76 to P94.41; all-purpose cream, from P36.00 to P72; “nata de coco,” from P52.50 to P62.50; “kaong,” from P76.50 to P84; “queso de bola,” from P210 to P470; cheese, from P16.50 to P310; and mayonnaise, from P20.40 to P245.85.

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Many Filipinos criticized doomed former DPWH official Henry Alcantara for surrendering (euphemism for returning?) P110 million to the government— the Department of Justice (DOJ)—, as part of the P300 million in kickbacks he admitted taking from flood control projects in Bulacan, the first-time restitution in the unraveling multibillion-peso corruption scandal has been made in cash.

Critics said even if Alcantara will return P500 million or more, this will not absolve him from cases of plunder or malversation of public funds.

In fact, they added, he will still rot in jail because of the degree of his participation in the multi-billion flood control project scam.

Instead of being enraged, we must welcome this development. At least, the government, or the taxpayers for that matter, will have something to get in return before Christmas after being hoodwinked by the thieves.

The amount will be returned to the public coffer to be used to finance the basic services for the poor. More money to be turned over, the better.

We expect more to follow. We lost billions of pesos from the anomalies, thus whatever amount we recover is already a blessing in disguise.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)