CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Consumers across northern Mindanao are seeing continued relief as food prices, particularly rice and corn, continue to drop, helping push the region’s overall inflation rate to -0.5 percent in August 2025

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10, this marks the second straight month of negative inflation in the region, slightly up from -0.6 percent in July but significantly down from 4.2 percent a year ago.

PSA Regional Director Janith C. Aves attributed the downtrend to the lower inflation rate of rice at -17.8 percent and corn, which posted -16.4 percent. Both items were major contributors to the overall movement of inflation of food commodities in the region, alongside declines in the prices of tomatoes and potatoes.

Some sectors, on the other hand, recorded higher inflation. Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels rose to 1.5 percent from 0.8 percent, while Transport climbed to 0.7 percent from -0.7 percent, largely due to slower declines in fuel prices and slight increases in housing-related costs and bicycle prices.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 is preparing for a broader implementation of P20-per-kilo rice, following a one-day public trial during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 68th birthday celebration on Sept. 13. The said special rollout allowed all consumers—not just vulnerable sectors—to purchase rice at the subsidized price.

During a media forum on northern Mindanao’s August 2025 Inflation Report on Sept. 15, Supervising Agriculturist Ferdinand F. Caraballe said they are waiting for the President’s official pronouncement to make the P20 rice available on a wider scale.

“Gahulat mi sa pronouncement sa atong Presidente. Among getan-aw is ang logistical costs ug acceptability sa market. After the analysis kung everything is okay, ma-available na gyud siya,” he added.

(We are waiting for the pronouncement of our President. What we are looking into are the logistical costs and market acceptability. After the analysis, if everything is okay, it will be made available.)

As food prices continue to fall, government agencies are working in tandem to monitor inflation drivers and ensure essential goods remain accessible and affordable, especially with the holiday season approaching. (APB/PIA-10)