PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The areas of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City recorded a deceleration of inflation rates influenced by a minimal decrease in electricity rates and imports of rice in the month of October, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Palawan reports.
Supervising Statistical Specialist and Officer-in-Charge Donna Marie Mobe said in the inflation report that the combined imports of traders from domestic and international sources contributed to the movement of prices in October.
Even though there has not been a drastic decrease in the rate of electricity, the minimal movement still reflects the October inflation in Palawan and Puerto Princesa.
“Sa rice kasi ang medyo nakaapekto sa pagbagal ay imports natin at saka ‘yong production natin ay affected siya. Nagkabagyo nong September kaya medyo naapektuhan ang production at pricing sa collection period natin ng October,” she said.
The province of Palawan recorded 2.3 percent inflation in October compared to last month’s 4.3 percent. Commodity groups such as housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels contributed the most, accounting for 7.1 percent.
The inflation rate for restaurants and accommodation services is one percent, while the inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages is 2.4 percent.
The top five commodities that influenced October’s inflation in Palawan are electricity, rice, canned meat, rentals, and other pelagic fish.
Puerto Princesa City also experienced a similar trend, with its inflation rate dropping from 4.3 percent in September to 4.0 percent. The sources of deceleration are groups of food and non-alcoholic beverages with a 5.5 percent rate, followed by housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels with 7.1 percent, and health with 1.9 percent.
PSA reported the top commodities contributing to the city’s rate include electricity, rice, other pelagic fish, restaurants, and meat from pigs.
Despite the higher inflation rates in the recreation, sports, and culture commodity groups in both Palawan and PPC, Mobe clarified that the hosting of sports events in the city does not correlate with this movement.
In Palawan and Puerto Princesa, the rate of sports equipment purchases in October was 0.6 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
“Hindi siya masyadong gumalaw ang presyo pero nag-increase. Hindi ganon kalaki ang impact, ang kinuha natin prices ay subscription, pagbili ng gamit. Hindi masyadong nakaapekto ang activities na nandito,” she said.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages also contributed to a deceleration in the inflation rates among households with the lowest income levels, or the bottom 30 percent in Palawan and Puerto Princesa.
In contrast to the movement in Palawan and Puerto Princesa, the region of MIMAROPA accelerated to 2.6 percent from 2.5 percent. Oriental Mindoro is the lone province in the region, which had a rapid movement of the inflation rate from 1.4 to 2.6 percent in October. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
