Philippine inflation climbed to 7.2 percent in September, up from 6.1 percent in August, as higher food, transport and energy costs intensified price pressures on households, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan attributed the acceleration largely to supply disruptions caused by adverse weather and higher global oil prices.
“September’s inflation rise was driven mainly by disruptions in food supply caused by adverse weather and higher global oil prices,” Balisacan said.
He said the government was responding through targeted measures intended to ease supply-side pressures and limit their impact on consumers.
Among the measures is the suspension of excise taxes on LPG and kerosene, which is intended to temper increases in household and energy costs. The government has also expanded the Secondary Price Cap to the Visayas and Mindanao power grids to help contain electricity prices.
To address transport and distribution costs, the government is pursuing a toll waiver on major highways for trucks hauling agricultural products.
Officials expect the measure to reduce logistics expenses and help keep food prices in check as commodities move from farms to markets.
Food supply remains a major focus of the government’s response to rising inflation. Authorities are expanding palay storage capacity in Tarlac and rolling out the country’s first commercially approved African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine, a move aimed at stabilizing pork production ahead of the holiday season.
The government is also seeking to strengthen agricultural planning by improving data sharing between the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. The initiative is expected to support more climate-resilient production decisions as extreme weather continues to pose risks to food supply.
Authorities are likewise preparing for a possible intensification of El Niño, which could further threaten agricultural production and put upward pressure on food prices. Preparations include the procurement of agricultural inputs, expansion of food and cold-storage facilities, cloud-seeding operations in drought-affected areas and targeted assistance for vulnerable communities.
Balisacan said the government’s strategy is to address inflation by tackling supply constraints rather than relying solely on measures that provide temporary relief.
“The best response to supply-driven inflation is to strengthen supply itself,” he said.
He added that expanding food production and storage, improving logistics and building resilience against climate shocks would help address the underlying causes of price pressures and support a more stable food supply.