MARAWi CITY--A slight increase in BARMM’s inflation rate was recorded in March 2023 at 7.8 percent, compared to 7.5 percent last February, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-BARMM) said.

"The slight surge of the inflation rate to 0.3% this month in the Bangsamoro region was mainly due to the increase in growths in the indices of three commodity groups such as food and non-alcoholic beverages; restaurant and accommodation services; personal care; and miscellaneous goods and services," said PSA-BARMM Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Engr. Akan Tula.

Tawi-Tawi had the highest inflation rate among the BARMM provinces at 11.7 percent, then Basilan at 9.5 percent, Sulu at 8.4 percent, Lanao del Sur at 7.2 percent, and Maguindanao at 6.4 percent.
The report also mentioned that Cotabato City decreased its inflation rate to 5.5 percent in March 2023, compared to the 6.6 percent inflation rate in the previous month of February 2023.

The headline inflation rate in the entire Philippines decreased to 7.6 percent this month compared to the previous month of February 2023, which was at 8.6 percent.

Region 8 or Eastern Visayas recorded the lowest inflation rate at 5.9 percent, Region 2 or Cagayan Valley recorded the second lowest inflation rate at 6.2 percent, and Region 7 or Central Visayas recorded the third lowest inflation rate at 6.6 percent, while Region 6 or Western Visayas recorded the highest inflation rate at 9.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) Macro-Economic Planning Division Chief Camelia de Vera-Dacanay said that after the launch of the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP), BPDA will coordinate with different BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies to collect all programs and projects to recover from the continuing surge of the inflation rate in the region.

"The slight increase in the region’s inflation rate is still linked to the adjustment period from the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fasting month of Ramadhan that is expected to increase the price of basic commodities," Dacanay said.

BPDA Planning Officer V and Chief of Research and Development Division Marifah Agar explained some mechanisms indicated in the 2nd BDP to address the increase in the inflation rate and maintain it within a manageable range of 2-4 percent per year.

"Implementing measures may need to be considered by the policymakers in BARMM, such as freezing or controlling the market prices, providing subsidies and increasing the goods and services, improving the region’s infrastructure, increasing agricultural productivity, supporting small and medium enterprises, and promoting investments in the key industries, are some priority strategies in the second BDP to prevent the increase in the inflation rate for the next six years in the region," he said. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)