MANILA: Over ten years ago, when Fatima Macud brought home roughly 30,000 pesos ($509) a month, the money was enough to cover her expenses and still leave room for savings. Though she now earns 45,000 pesos, Macud finds herself unable to save any money as she struggles with rising prices to cover daily spending. “Yes, I got a salary increase, but the thing is, the cost of living here in the city also increased,” the 52-year-old resident of Metro Manila told Arab News on Saturday.