THE FILIPINO Christmas is traditionally adorned with sparkling parols and vibrant sounds of carols. However, this year, the customary festivity is laced with the persistent rise in food inflation that threatens the essence of Christmas.

The holiday bloom now mingles with the unease of food inflation, casting shadows on the meals shared during Noche Buena and Media Noche. In the face of this challenge, urgent government action is essential to deliver immediate relief and ensure long-term stability and growth.

Despite October’s inflation falling to 4.9% due to cheaper food, the year-on-year food price index shows an eight-point rise from last year. Highlighting rice inflation’s letup due to peak harvests and imports, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan’s optimism contrasts with the dire predictions of a worsening El Niño until the second quarter of 2024. This leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, as the temporary relief felt last October does not signify a juncture in the ongoing struggle against inflation.

This scenario is far from benign, especially for the marginalized members of the society. The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities have left millions of Filipinos grappling with the challenge of putting food on their tables​​. The high costs of holiday staples like round fruits and cured meat are pushing the season’s essential joys further out of reach and generally threatening millions of Filipinos’ overall well-being​​.

Beyond dinner tables exists bleakness that reflects not only the immediate struggles of farmers and consumers but also signals deeper systemic issues within the nation’s agricultural sector. The high inflation rate is poised to decimate the agricultural sector due to the increased cost of raw materials. 

The government imported more agricultural goods to mitigate the 2023 inflation, which is merely a band-aid solution to a deeply entrenched problem. The country’s food inflation saga is a manifestation of the long-standing agricultural sector neglect, flawed importation policies, and prices manipulated by cartels.

This problem transcends discourse about percentages and economic jargon, as the reality bites hard, with 51% of Filipino families now considering themselves poor. Such a figure is not just a statistic—it is a testament to a society struggling under the weight of economic strain.

Amid the vibrant celebrations, the current crisis beckons our government to forge robust policies that ensure the stability of food prices and fortify our food security. As we hang our parols and sing our carols, it is a must for us—government and community alike—to weave a safety net for those falling through the cracks of our economy, thereby ensuring that the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, communal joy, and generosity prevails.

Filipino Christmas is not just in the splendor of our decorations or the melody of our songs, but in the shared experience of our people coming together in warmth and celebration.

The aspiration for a hunger-free Christmas mirrors a more profound longing for economic stability and prosperity. However, food inflation looms large, threatening to turn this aspiration into a distant dream. It is a battle that we can and must win—to transform this season of economic worry back into a time of shared joy.

Lance is an AB Management Economics student from Ateneo de Manila University, graduating in 2025. He harnesses his foundation in economics and data analysis toward social advancement, driven by a vision of a world where data-driven decisions pave the way for sustainable and equitable economic development.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.