PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The influx of tourist arrivals and recent hosting of events in Puerto Princesa contributed to the acceleration of the inflation rate in the month of October, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reports.
The inflation rate in the city increased to 4.5 percent from September’s 4.4 percent. The main drivers are the commodity groups of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.9 percent, followed by housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 4.2 percent, and health at 3.7 percent.
Chief Statistical Specialist Maria Lalaine Rodriguez explained that the inflation due to the influx of tourists helps generate income as the local government unit has to replenish supplies.
“Isa sa nakakaapekto diyan ay ang influx ng ating tourists at may events tayo. As usual, may law of supply and demand, ‘yon ang nakakapekto sa paggalaw,” she said.
In contrast with the inflation rate in the city, the province of Palawan showed deceleration driven by the lower index for food and non-alcoholic beverages at 9.3 percent, followed by transport at -3.3 percent, and health at 4.6 percent.
Palawan recorded an inflation rate of 6.0 percent from September’s 7.1 percent.
The combined impact of the onset of harvest season and the implementation of the price cap on rice under Executive Order No. 39
“Ang sources naman namin na retailers, medyo bumaba, naka-affect din in one way,” she said.
The inflation in the commodity group of health showed different movements for Palawan and Puerto Princesa during the month of October, which Rodriguez explained as a result of the more accessible facilities and lower fees for doctors in towns.
The accelerated movement of prices was observed in services of preventive care, diagnostic imaging, and medical laboratories in Puerto Princesa.
“Marami tayong municipal hospitals operating sa Palawan, medyo mas accessible ang medical health services dahil sa presence ng municipal hospitals. Posible na ang services ng ating doctors ay hindi kasintaas ng dito sa Puerto Princesa,” she said.
PSA shows the Inflation rate in the MIMAROPA region including provinces and one
highly urbanized city (Photo by Rachel Ganancial)
The commodity group of food and non-alcoholic beverages also mainly drives inflation in Palawan and Puerto Princesa for the bottom 30 percent of income households.
The majority of provinces in the Mimaropa region also showed a deceleration in the movement of prices. PSA recorded the inflation rate of the region at 5.9 percent in October from 6.8 percent in September. The city of Puerto Princesa, the lone area, showed an acceleration in the inflation rate for October 2023. (RG/PIA Mimaropa – Palawan)
