Peasant leader Danilo Ramos from Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said the National Economic Development Authority’s (NEDA) latest food poor threshold of Php64 per day. Ramos said this is an insult to farmers, fishers and to Filipinos who are doing backbreaking work to feed their families.

“Hinahamon ng mga magsasaka si Secretary Arsenio Balisacan at iba pang economic managers na subukang mabuhay na mayroon lamang Php64 para sa pagkain sa loob ng isang araw. In its desperate attempt to showcase the country as among the world’s fastest growing emerging markets, NEDA is spewing incredible data on poverty, uneployment, and economic growth. Sa totoo lang, wala nang naniniwala sa NEDA.”

NEDA said the amount was arrived at when you divide the monthly food threshold of P9,581 for a family as of 2023 to the approximate number of days per month or 30 days.

The KMP leader said the Php64 per day food threshold or roughly Php21 per meal computed by NEDA is far from enough to feed even a daily wage earner. “Wala na pong mabibiling masustansyang pagkain ang Php64. Kulang pa ito sa isang kanin at ulam sa karinderya. Huwag naman sanang gawing sobrang kawawa ng NEDA ang mga Pilipinong na nagsisikap para makakain ng disente, tatlong beses sa isang araw,” Ramos lamented. Rice farmers shoulder most of their production expenses, apart from the steadily increasing cost of living. As of April, the family living wage needed for a family of five for food and non-food requirements is pegged at more than P1,207 per day.

The group earlier said that NEDA’s boasting of the GDP growth is not reflective of the actual economic situation of Filipinos.

KMP said it will continue to demand and assert for significant compensation for farmers and fishers affected by the recent El Nino and flooding events. The group will also continue their demand for production subsidies for agri-fishery producers. ###