Inflation in Palawan decelerated sharply in March 2026, easing to 0.8% for the province’s poorest households and 1.4% for all households in Puerto Princesa City, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Rising transport costs, however, offset gains from cheaper food, affecting commuters and small businesses.
Data from the PSA Palawan Provincial Statistical Office showed inflation among the bottom 30% of income earners dropped from 1.8% in February to 0.8% in March. In Puerto Princesa City, inflation also slowed from 1.9% to 1.4% over the same period.
Despite the slowdown, transport costs rose sharply, increasing by 9.4% for low-income households in the province and 12.6% in the city. The PSA noted that transport alone accounted for more than 60% of the total inflation experienced by poor households during the month.
Food prices provided relief, contracting by 0.9% year-on-year for low-income households. Rice prices declined by 2.7%, meat dropped by 3.5%, and vegetables fell by 6.2%. However, prices of fish, cooking oil, and fruits continued to rise.
Health-related expenses also increased, with costs for medicine and medical services climbing 7.3% in March, higher than the 6.6% recorded in February, indicating sustained pressure on household budgets.
The PSA said inflation in Palawan remains significantly lower than the national rate of 4.2% and the MIMAROPA regional rate of 2.4%.
“A peso in 2018 is only worth 75 centavos today. What ₱100 bought you eight years ago now costs ₱133.30, but the pace of that shrinkage is finally slowing down,” the report noted.
The report was signed by Officer-in-Charge Oscar H. Gatpandan and released on April 15, 2026, based on the 2018-based Consumer Price Index from the Retail Price Survey of Commodities.
