LEGAZPI CITY – The Bicol region experienced a notable uptick in its inflation rate, reaching 3.2% in January 2025, up from 2.4% the previous month, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority in Bicol (PSA-5). This increase was announced during a press conference held in Legazpi City on February 7, 2025, by PSA-5 statistical specialist Ray Merjilla.
Merjilla highlighted that the primary drivers behind this surge were increases in the costs of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which contributed 53.4% to the inflation rate. Specifically, the prices of vegetables, tubers, cooking bananas, meat, and fish saw significant rises. Additionally, the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels sector added 15.2% to the inflation, with increases noted in rentals, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and wood fuel.
The top commodities pushing inflation higher included tomatoes, pork, rentals, onions and shallots, and eggplants. Merjilla attributed these price hikes to supply shortages and weather disturbances, noting that continuous rains over the past week had disrupted supply chains, particularly affecting the prices of tomatoes and eggplants.
Across the Bicol Region’s six provinces, inflation rates varied. Masbate saw the highest rate at 3.7%, while Sorsogon had the lowest at 2.5%. Other provincial rates included Albay at 3.6%, Catanduanes at 3.5%, Camarines Sur at 3.1%, and Camarines Norte at 2.6%.