Senator Francis Escudero urged the government to strengthen safeguards against rising consumer prices after headline inflation climbed to 7.2 percent in April, with Central Visayas reaching 10.8 percent and Zamboanga Peninsula at 9.9 percent.
Urgent Need for Coordinated Action
Escudero emphasized that the double-digit inflation in Central Visayas and near double-digit rate in Zamboanga highlight the urgency of coordinated action between fiscal and monetary authorities. Households and farmers are bearing the brunt of rising food, fuel, and transport costs.
"Aside from monitoring, we need an immediate response so that rising prices do not completely consume the income of families, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao, where we have the highest inflation rates," Escudero stressed.
Inflation Data Details
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that headline inflation accelerated sharply from 4.1 percent in March and 1.4 percent a year earlier. Core inflation also rose to 3.9 percent. The surge was driven mainly by food, transport, and housing costs.
Food inflation reached 6.1 percent, with rice climbing 13.7 percent and corn 21 percent, alongside higher costs for fish, seafood, and vegetables. Transport inflation jumped to 21.4 percent, while housing, electricity, gas, and fuels rose 8.2 percent.
Regional Disparities
Outside Metro Manila, inflation averaged 7.7 percent. Central Visayas remained the country's inflation hotspot for the ninth straight month at 10.8 percent. Zamboanga Peninsula followed at 9.9 percent, Davao Region at 9.7 percent, Soccsksargen at 9.6 percent, and Caraga at 9.4 percent. The lowest was Negros Island Region at 4.9 percent.
Call for Better Coordination
While expressing confidence in the administration's economic team, Escudero stressed the need for tighter alignment between the Department of Finance and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. "Improved coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities will be important in the coming months. By working closely with the DOF and the BSP, the government can craft a more responsive strategy that addresses pressures currently affecting the regions," he said.
"The fight against inflation must be felt most in the regions where families are struggling to keep pace with rising costs," Escudero concluded.
