DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that inflation rate in Davao Region rose to two percent in December 2019 from 0.7 percent in November the same year.
This prompted the increase in the inflation rates in provinces. The highest is 2.8 percent in Davao De Oro (formerly Compostela Valley), followed by Davao Del Norte with 2.2 percent, Davao Del Sur with 1.8 percent, and Davao Oriental with 1.6 percent.
PSA attributed the acceleration of the region’s inflation to the 3.2 percent annual increase in the transport index.
Higher annual increases were also recorded in indices of commodities such as Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 1.9 percent; Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 0.2 percent; Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House, 4.3 percent; Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 13.2 percent; and Clothing and Footwear, 3.4 percent.
The country’s inflation rate jumped to 2.5 percent last month, up from 1.3 percent in November, but still within the government’s inflation target of 2-4 percent, the PSA added.
Linda Hermoso, a resident of Davao City, told Davao Today that she needs to reduce her daily expenses again due to the continued rise of inflation.
“Despite already budgeting my funds for my daily needs, I have to adjust it because the prices of goods have increased,” she said.
Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR) expected that the inflation rate will continue to rise this year with new tranche of excise taxes implemented under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
KMU-SMR spokesperson Romelito Pablo that minimum wage workers are struggling to make ends meet as prices of basic goods continue to increase.
Daily wage in Davao Region is currently at P391 for agriculture; and P396 for non-agriculture/industrial/commercial and retail/service industry.
“With how high the prices of goods right now, it will not be enough especially for a family with five members,” Pablo said, adding that ordinary workers are burdened with loans.
To uplift the lives of poor Filipino workers, KMU called for the Duterte administration to scrap the TRAIN Law, fulfill its pledge to end labor contractualization, and implement their demand for a P750 national minimum wage. (with reports from Porsha Sera, HCDC Intern/davaotoday.com)
