VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Ilocos Sur reported on Friday, April 19, that the inflation rate of agricultural products, particularly rice, corn, fish, and other seafood, fruits, and vegetables, among others, increased in March.

This was shared during the briefing on the inflation report summary of the Consumer Price Index Ilocos Sur for March 2024.

PSA Ilocos Sur chief statistical specialist Jeanette Marzan reported that from -1.1 percent in February, the headline inflation rate of products and services in Ilocos Sur for all income households increased to 0.6 percent in the succeeding month. 

“The main contributing factor in the increase of the prices of products and services in our province in March 2024 is the rise in prices of food and non–alcoholic beverages which recorded a 5.8 percent inflation rate from the 3.7 percent rate in February. This has a 47.8 percent share in the increase of the overall inflation in the province,” said Marzan.

Further, the inflation rate of rice increased from 20.3 percent to 23.2, corn from -1.7 to 12.8 percent, fish and other seafood from 0.8 percent to 1.2 percent, vegetables, cooking bananas, and pulses, etc. from -14.2 percent to -2.8 percent, and sugar and desserts from -9.1 percent to -7.8 percent.

Reginald Yadao, chief of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Agriculture said the main contributory factor to the increase in prices of agricultural goods in the province is the extreme weather conditions, or El Niño.

Asked about the initiatives of the local government for this concern he said, “Due to the extreme heat that is affecting our Ilocano farmers, the Provincial Government led by Governor Jerry Singson is in the process of constructing 1,000 units of solar power irrigation systems to mitigate costs on gasoline and diesel, and aid with the El Niño phenomenon.”

“Our goal is to provide a unit to all barangays of the province, there are 768 barangays in Ilocos Sur and as of now the provincial government is rushing the construction of the 1,000 units of solar power irrigation systems to help in the drought concern,” said Yadao.

Meanwhile, Marzan stated that this monthly briefing is important to inform the local government units of the current CPI.

“We are hoping that through this monthly report as their basis, we could help the LGUs and the national government agencies to create appropriate policies and interventions on the quick increase of prices,” she said. (JCR/MJTAB/ATV/KCCM, PIA Ilocos Sur)