The Department of Trade and Industry’s efforts to show how wise budgeting can stretch the buck for a Filipino family to spend less than P500 for Noche Buena ingredients backfired when netizens expressed their disgust at the agency’s belittlement of the Filipino consumer.
Many of them called for a Noche Buena reveal of the public officials who masterminded the campaign.
In the original post which has been taken down by DTI Consumer Care, they suggested that instead of buying the traditional holiday ham which costs upwards of P400, Pinoy families can opt for American ham which costs P163 per 500 grams.
Instead of tasty bread, pan de sal was offered as an option. Instead of queso de bola, regular cheese which cost P41.75 was added to the list.
The lowest-priced pasta set at P112 was included and 1/8 kilo of pork costing P31.25 along with the combo of kremdensada and fruit cocktail costing P116.50 rounded up the simple Noche Buena package.
Even though the inforgraphic was quickly deleted on the DTI Consumer Care official page, there were a lot of netizens and news outlets who were quick to screenshot the post.
Here are some choice reactions:
Dapat may Noche Buena reveal din lahat ng officials ng DTI na gumawa nito.
Walk the talk kumbaga. DTI, game? pic.twitter.com/JNw62DjXCL
— Czar Lee Puth 👕 (@Stewart___O) December 11, 2022
Siguro ganan handa ng DTI secretary tuwing noche buena. pic.twitter.com/POmEX1SepF
— 𝓐𝓹𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓮 (@Expelleyarmus) December 11, 2022
I dare any DTI officer to take this shopping list and use it for their Noche Buena. While at it, film or video to show how well you have done and enjoyed your PhP488.00 feast. pic.twitter.com/xJMggGX5eL
— Ofelia T Leathley (@leathley_t) December 11, 2022
Television personality Chucky Dreyfuss even called out the DTI for including 1/8 kilos of meat for a meal meant for 4-5 people.