Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12) — An independent think tank argued that a minimum wage monthly income cannot give a comfortable life for a family of five.
IBON Foundation on Thursday said the statement of economic officials that ₱10,727 is enough to provide for the basic food and non-food needs of five people is unrealistic.
“Ang sinasabi na ₱10,727, hindi pa sasapat para sa disenteng pagkain ng lima sa NCR… Ang problema, talagang out of touch with reality,” IBON Foundation Executive Director Sonny Africa told CNN Philippines.
He said ₱24,000 is needed for a decent way of living in Metro Manila, while ₱19,000 is the ideal average budget for a family in other parts of the country.
On Tuesday, economic officials said P7,500 is enough for the basic food needs, while around P3,200 can fund non-food items such as clothing, fuel, light, water, rent, house repairs, medical care, education, transportation, and personal care.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said ₱10,727 should be the minimum amount for a “no-frills” lifestyle.
Africa said the computation given by the government was “arbitrary,” adding cost for food alone would be in the range of ₱11,000 for a family of five.
“Walang ganoong klase ng pagkkwenta kung magkano ba talaga ang pabahay, pamasahe, tubig, kuryente. Talagang malaking sabit sa computation,” he said.
[Translation: They did not properly compute how much it costs to rent a house, to pay for transportation, to pay for water and electricity.]
The group added that this remark from the economic officials reflect how the government perceives the less fortunate Filipinos.
“Kung tingin ng pamahalaan ay sasapat na ang more or less ₱10k para mamuhay ng disente ang isang pamilya, ang naiiisip ko parang ang trato nila halos hayop na lang ang mga Pilipino, na basta nakakakain ay okay na,” he said.
[Translation: If this government thinks more or less P10K is enough for a decent living, then they are seeing these Filipinos as animals, that as long as they get to eat, then that should be fine.]
Pernia’s statement came during the announcement that 5.9 million Filipinos were no longer considered poor in 2018. With the government nearly exceeding its initial goal halfway through the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, which is to lift a total of 6 million Filipinos out of poverty, they are looking to adjust the poverty rate target for 2022.
