A cost of living survey by
the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) found that a family of five in the
National Capital Region needs P1,300 daily or P39,000 monthly to live decently
as of May 2018.
PM’s cost of living
estimate is in stark contrast to the “hypothetical scenario” of the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA) of a P10,000 monthly budget for a family of
five.
“NEDA’s assessment is utterly
erroneous. Just to cite one flaw. NEDA alleges that P959 out of the P10,000 is allotted
for rice. Such a budget can only buy 30 kilos of P32 NFA rice—which is hard to
find in the market—for one month or 1 kilo per day to be shared by 5 people.
This translates to just one cup (200g) per person per day or around 250 calories,
far below the recommended daily calorie intake of 1,500-2,000. P10,000 means
malnourished and stunted workers and children,” explained Rene Magtubo, PM
national chair.
In PM’s own study, P3,150
monthly are needed to buy daily 2.5 kilos of the cheapest commercial rice at
P42. Of the P39,000 monthly budget, 44% is earmarked for food and 56% for
non-food items. Utilities like electricity, water and cooking gas make up 8%,
house rent 15%, transportation expenses 11% and education needs 13% of the
total budget.
“Our cost of living study
is in fact an underestimation as it does not provide for leisure and recreation,
savings or social security which should comprise 10% as a standard or for a house
help which is a necessity if the government insists that both parents must work
to sustain the family,” Magtubo averred.
PM is calling for a substantial
wage hike and national minimum wage as promised by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The group is supporting pending bills calling for a national minimum wage of
P750 to P800.
Magtubo insisted that “The focus now is
on worsening inflation that has eroded workers nominal wages. But hardly
noticed is growing inequality due to the stagnation of real wages while
productivity is booming. From 2001 to 2016, labor productivity grew by at least
50 percent, yet the real wages did not grow at all. Workers have been denied
their fair share in the fruits of production.”
Cost of Living Estimate
for a
family of 5 living in NCR (May 2018)
|
Items
|
Volume/Cost
|
Daily
Cost
|
Monthly
Cost
|
%
share
|
|
Food & Beverages
|
|
|
17,446.50
|
44.33
|
|
rice
|
2.5kg/day x P42
(sinandomeng)
|
105
|
3,150
|
|
|
ulam
& gulay
|
3 servings (P82/pax/day
x 5 pax)
|
410
|
12,300
|
|
|
seasoning
|
2kg onion (P97/kilo),
1kg garlic (P110/kilo)
|
10.13
|
304
|
|
|
fruits
|
4kg x P60
(banana)
|
8
|
240
|
|
|
cooking
oil
|
2 liters x P106
|
7.07
|
212
|
|
|
sugar
|
2kg x P56.25
|
3.75
|
112.5
|
|
|
soy
sauce
|
1 liter P42
|
1.40
|
42
|
|
|
vinegar
|
1 liter P34.50
|
1.15
|
34.50
|
|
|
fish
sauce
|
1 liter P53
|
1.77
|
53
|
|
|
coffee
|
2 (100g) x P76.25
|
5.08
|
152.50
|
|
|
milk
|
3 (900g) x P282
|
28.20
|
846
|
|
|
Utilities
|
|
|
3,358
|
8.53
|
|
electricity
|
200kwh (P10.90/kwh)
|
72.67
|
2,180
|
|
|
water
|
20cu.m. (P23.95/cu.m)
|
15.97
|
479
|
|
|
LPG
|
1 cylinder
|
23.30
|
699
|
|
|
House rental
|
|
|
6,000
|
15.25
|
|
|
1 month rent
|
200
|
6,000
|
|
|
Toiletries
|
|
|
1,027.05
|
2.61
|
|
soap
|
6 bars (135g) x P40.50
|
8.10
|
243
|
|
|
shampoo
|
2 (180ml ) x P101.90
|
6.79
|
203.80
|
|
|
sanitary
napkins
|
3 (packs of 8)
x P42.75
|
4.28
|
128.25
|
|
|
toothpaste
|
2 (150ml) x P77.50
|
5.17
|
155
|
|
|
laundry
soap
|
24 (70g pack) x P5.50
|
4.40
|
132
|
|
|
deodorant
|
2 (40ml) x P82.50
|
5.50
|
165
|
|
|
Education
|
|
|
5,170.83
|
13.14
|
|
miscellaneous
fees
|
3 pax x P750 =
P2250/schoolyear
|
6.25
|
187.50
|
|
|
school
allowance
|
100 x 2 pax & 50 x 1
pax/day x 22 days x 10 months = P55,000/yr
|
152.78
|
4583.33
|
|
|
theatre
tickets
|
1 ticket x P200/grading
x 4 periods x 3 pax/schoolyear = P2,400
|
6.67
|
200
|
|
|
school
projects
|
2 subjects x P100
/grading x 4 periods x 3
pax = P2,400/schoolyear
|
6.67
|
200
|
|
|
Health
|
|
|
450
|
1.14
|
|
ascorbic
acid
|
5 (1 tablet ascorbic
acid generic) X P3
|
15
|
450
|
|
|
Communications
|
|
|
1,500
|
3.81
|
|
phone
or cellphone
|
at least P25/day load x
2
|
50
|
1,500
|
|
|
Transpo expenses
|
|
|
4,400
|
11.18
|
|
fare
to and from work
|
2 pax x P100/day x
22days
|
146.67
|
4,400
|
|
|
Total
|
|
P1,311.77
|
P39,352.38
|
|
NOTES:
1. Family is
composed of a couple with 3 children. Children are all in public
schools (2 HS level and 1 elementary), school supplies, work books expenses,
internet use for research are not yet included
2. Basket does not
include bill for a house-help
3. Utilities such as
electricity and water vary from time to time depending on consumption
4. No item for
leisure/recreation
5. Health budget does
not include medical expenses
6. No budget allotted
for savings. NWPC basket provides 10% of the total
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