Why PhP21 Per Meal Is Not Enough: A Working Paper on Food Affordability and Nutrition in the Philippines

This working paper argues that PhP21 per meal based on the government’s reported PhP64 daily food-poverty threshold is not enough for an average Filipino to eat a decent and nutritious diet. Even after adjusting for 2026 inflation, the threshold rises only to about PhP74 per day. Actual carinderia prices show that a basic meal already costs about PhP85, while a fuller meal can cost PhP135 to PhP145. For three meals a day, a person may need around PhP255 to PhP435. The paper concludes that PhP21 per meal measures survival, not the real cost of healthy eating.