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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