The headline inflation in Western Visayas rose to 4.9 percent in June from 4.3 percent in the previous month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.
The increase is primarily attributed to the higher costs of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 2.7 percent and contributing over 98 percent to the inflation uptrend.
The clothing and footwear commodity, with an inflation rate of 3.3 percent, shared 1.3 percent, while the health commodity, with its 2.7 percent rate, contributed 0.6 percent to the overall inflation rate.
Miguel Gallego, PSA-6 Statistical Specialist II, said these top three commodities have a substantial impact on accelerating the inflation rate.
“Basically, our electricity rate is a big weight that pulls our inflation rate to increase,” Gallego said during the press conference.
Meantime, among provinces, Aklan and Guimaras recorded the highest inflation rates, averaging 6.2 percent, while Negros Occidental had the lowest rate, with an average rate of 4.5 percent.
The inflation rate in Iloilo City also increased to 2.2 percent from 1.3 percent in May. Bacolod City also recorded a significant rise, jumping from 4.5 percent in May to 6.1 percent in June.
Census, monitoring
Meanwhile, PSA deployed more than 6,000 enumerators across Western Visayas as the 2024 Census of Population and Community-Based Monitoring System officially started yesterday.
The census enumeration period runs from July 15 to September 16, 2024, covering 55 days, including Saturdays and holidays.
The data collection instrument includes a 120-item household profile questionnaire on education, employment, health, and living conditions.
The activity aims to capture a holistic understanding of the population and their needs, serving as a crucial data source for policymakers, planners, and decision-makers.
“This census underscores our commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of our social protection programs; our primary objectives include updating the list of beneficiaries and population counts for all barangays,” said PSA officer-in-charge Regional Director Nelida C. Amolar. (PNA)