Gov’t measures help cushion impact of inflation

MANILA – Government measures have helped cushion the impact of inflation on the poorest Filipino families, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Tuesday.

This, after the Philippine Statistics Authority reported during the day that price deflation persisted for the bottom 30 percent income households, at -0.2 percent in September 2025 from -0.6 percent in August.

Headline inflation, meanwhile, slightly quickened to 1.7 percent from 1.5 percent in August, due to the impact of weather disturbances on food supply.

Among others, food inflation surged to 19.4 percent from 10 percent in August due to higher vegetable prices.

In a statement, Tiu Laurel said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has taken measures to manage the supply and prices of the country’s main staples, including rice, sugar, and corn.

“We have ordered the importation of certain vegetables and fish to augment local supplies and keep prices stable,” he said.

Earlier, the DA confirmed the importation of red and white onions, carrots, and broccoli to help stabilize prices following the impact of recent weather disturbances.

Rice inflation also slightly rose to -16.9 percent from the record-low -17 percent in August.

Tiu Laurel said the DA maintained the maximum suggested retail price for 5-percent broken imported rice at PHP43 per kilogram despite the implementation of the import ban.

“Even while imposing a rice import ban, extended through year-end, we maintained the maximum suggested retail price and have increased the availability of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s PHP20 rice program in calamity-hit areas,” he said. — Stephanie Sevillano (PNA)