Neda’s ‘P10K a month’ statement draws flak from Lacson, fellow senators

Sen. Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

With only P10 a month, Filipinos can survive for as long as they would stop  breathing.

Senator Panfilo Lacson came out with this argument on Wednesday after the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) reportedly issued a statement  saying that a family of five can live with P10,000 a month.

However, Neda Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon immediately denied making such statement saying the whole issue was taken out of context.

Reacting to earlier report, Lacson had this to say about a family living with only P10,000 a month.

“Actually, we can, only if my family will eat only once a day, won’t brush our teeth nor take a bath, walk everyday to and from our place of work but avoid perspiring so we won’t wash our clothes,” he said in a text message to reporters.

“And yes, ask my wife to stop watching her favorite telenovela because I will sell the TV set. Ask my children to throw away their mobile phones so they won’t ask me for pasa loads.”

“Actually, we can survive with P10 [10 pesos] a month as long as we all stop breathing,”  Lacson added.

Senate President  Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Senator Francis  “Chiz” Escudero expressed  disbelief  at Neda’s reported  statement.

“Quite frankly, I do not know which planet they are talking about. Because its certainly not Metro Manila or the Philippines,” Escudero said in a separate text message.

Recto found  Neda’s reported computation “very hard to believe.”

“I challenge them to reduce their salary for three months and try to survive with P10,000 a month for 3 months. I bet they will change their calculations,”  he said  in another text message. /jpv

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