Love the Philippines? More like Mahal sa Pilipinas

*Insert “Every day I wake up in the Philippines” meme here*

The Department of Tourism recently unveiled a new slogan for the country, Love the Philippines, as a “love letter to the world.” Translated into Filipino, it also highlights a reality for those living in the country: Mahal sa Pilipinas.

While “love” is a term heard a lot from travelers, mahal (as in expensive) might be the word that pops into mind for locals.

Residing in the Philippines is expensive. Considering the high inflation rate, rising cost of goods and living, coupled with low minimum wage, 51% of Filipinos (or about 14 million households) consider themselves poor, according to a May 2023 Social Weather Stations survey. In a 2021 report, the average family income was P307,190 annually (or about P25,000 monthly) while their average expenditures are P228,800.

It didn’t help that the inflation rate in the country was at 8.1% in December 2022, the highest since November 2008. Goods and products that were staples in the Filipino household like onions and sugar experienced shortages and their prices were too high for some Filipinos to afford. In addition to that, Filipinos faced increased oil prices. However, the inflation rate has been easing—it went down to 6.1% in May 2023.

But products and services aren’t the only expenditures hit by inflation, even housing in the country is less affordable. Compared to other countries in Asia, the prices of homes in Metro Manila are one of the most expensive.

The latest Urban Land Institute (ULI) Home Attainability Index states that house prices in the capital region are 24 times higher than the family’s annual income. “[Metro Manila] suffers from limited housing stock and poor urban transportation infrastructure for a fast-expanding number of young professionals,” the study read.

ICYMI, annual income in the Philippines is on the polar opposite spectrum in comparison to the affordability of homes. In fact, Filipinos’ average salary (P15,000) is one of the lowest among 110 countries, according to a survey by think-tank Picodi.com. The country was even dubbed by the firm as “one of the worst” countries to live in for minimum wage earners. On June 29, Metro Manila’s wage board raised the minimum daily wage for workers in the metro to P610 from P570.

Daily minimum wage might have increased but transport, namely the LRT-1 and LRT-2, also recently set a soar in fares. That extra income will just go to commuters’ fares.

Every now and then, when an issue blows up, Filipinos utter, “Ang hirap mo mahalin, Pilipinas.” When prices for necessities rise and more Filipinos are working to themselves to the bone to put food on the table, it really gets tough to love the Philippines. Instead, you’ll really just think mahal sa Pilipinas.

Read more: DOT unveils new tourism slogan ‘Love the Philippines’ and Pinoys aren’t loving it

banner by: @lumpiangtoguely

The post <b>Love the Philippines? More like Mahal sa Pilipinas</b> appeared first on WE THE PVBLIC.

Source: we the pvblic