Rising food, energy costs push Bicol inflation to 2.3% in December

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- Inflation in the Bicol Region rose to 2.3 percent in December 2025, up from 0.6 percent in November, the Philippine Statistics Authority Bicol (PSA-5) reported on Friday.

At a press conference on Friday, Cynthia Perdiz, PSA-5 director, said the region’s average inflation for 2025 was recorded at 1.7 percent, lower than the 3.5 percent annual average record in 2024.

Perdiz said the December increase was mainly driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages, which accounted for 87 percent of the regional inflation.

Prices of vegetables, tubers and cooking bananas surged by 18.9 percent, while housing, electricity, gas and other fuels also contributed.

Top contributors included restaurants, cafés, onions, pork and other pelagic fish.

Among provinces, Camarines Sur had the highest inflation at 3.4 percent, while Sorsogon recorded the lowest at 0.9 percent.

Albay’s rate was 1.4 percent, Masbate 3.3 percent, Catanduanes 2.4 percent and Camarines Norte 1.1 percent.

Perdiz noted that ongoing Mayon volcano unrest could influence prices in the coming months. “Calamities tend to affect inflation, as seen in Masbate last November due to the typhoon,” she said.

On Tuesday, the PSA reported that inflation rose to 1.8 percent in December, with higher food prices contributing to upward pressure.

The December record was higher than the 1.5 percent rate posted in November, but remained within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 1.2 to 2 percent forecast range for the month. (PNA)