Western Visayas Inflation Drops, Still 9th Highest Nationwide

By Reamae Velasco, Daily Guardian Intern

The inflation rate in Western Visayas dropped to 0.6 percent in June, marking the sixth straight month of decline, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

This is down from 1.5 percent in May 2025 and a sharp drop from 4.5 percent in June 2024.

The region’s average inflation rate from January to June 2025 stood at 2.3 percent.

Among the country’s 17 regions, Western Visayas posted the ninth highest inflation rate.

Ilocos Region had the highest at 2.2 percent, while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao recorded the lowest at -0.9 percent.

PSA Region 6 officer-in-charge Nelida Amolar attributed the deceleration to a slower increase in the prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels.

These items had an inflation rate of 1.0 percent and accounted for 65.3 percent of the regional slowdown, she said.

Amolar noted that lower electricity, gas and water rates drove the drop, with kilowatt-hour charges and utility distribution fees both decreasing.

“If we look at the reasons for the drop in inflation, the primary drivers were electricity, gas and water,” she said at a press conference on Friday, July 1.

“The kilowatt per hour rate decreased, and utility distribution charges went down. This means lower household expenses and more disposable income for other needs like food.”

The second-largest contributor to the decline was food and non-alcoholic beverages, which posted a -0.5 percent deflation, contributing 32.4 percent to the overall decrease.

Major commodity groups that contributed to the inflation rate include furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, which recorded a 5.7 percent increase and contributed 29.0 percent.

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose 5.1 percent, accounting for 26.3 percent.

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels saw a 1.0 percent increase, with a 26.1 percent share.

At the provincial level, Antique posted the lowest inflation rate at -2.2 percent in June, down from -1.3 percent in May.

Aklan followed with -1.8 percent, lower than its -0.7 percent rate in May.

Iloilo City posted the highest provincial rate at 2.7 percent in June, though this was down from 3.3 percent in May.