CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Residents across Northern Mindanao are feeling the pinch as the regional inflation rate surged to 8.2% in April 2026.
Based on a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-X) briefing on May 13, the figure marks a sharp rise from 4.6% in March and a steep increase from just 0.1% in April 2025.
The current rate also exceeds the national average of 7.2%, placing heavier pressure on local households. PSA-X Regional Director Janith C. Aves said average inflation for the first four months of 2026 now stands at 4.1%.
Inflation drivers
Price increases were largely driven by food, fuel, and utilities.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose to 7.0% from 3.2% in March, with rice (18.8%) and fish (10.8%) posting the highest increases.
Transport recorded the sharpest spike at 28.4%, driven by surging diesel prices (120.6%), gasoline (58.2%), and other passenger road transport (12.3%).
Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels also rose to 7.5%, with LPG inflation jumping to 43.1% from 0.7% in March.
“The commodities that primarily contributed to transport inflation in April 2026 were gasoline at 58.2%, diesel at 120.6%, and other passenger transport by road at 12.3%,” Aves said.
Government response
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Information Officer Julie A. Nieva-Costales said higher fuel costs have a “ripple effect” across goods and services due to logistics and production expenses. The DTI is intensifying price monitoring to enforce Suggested Retail Prices (SRP).
The Department of Agriculture (DA-10) is also pursuing strategic importation to stabilize supply and ease prices.
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“Naa tay strategy gitawag og strategic importation to curtail prices. If we don’t do this, there will be a ripple effect on inflation. Our priority is to protect consumers,” said DA-10 Supervising Agriculturist Ferdinand F. Caraballe.
He noted that with carrots reaching ₱190 per kilo, government intervention is necessary. The DA also continues direct market programs such as Kadiwa and Sagip Saka, with weekly markets in Cagayan de Oro and El Salvador City, including via ekadiwada10.com.
Transport support
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-10) said it is pursuing both immediate aid and long-term interventions for drivers and operators affected by rising fuel costs.
“Naa tay P10 fuel discount and Service Contracting Program where operators and drivers are paid per kilometer. We also monitor fare policies to keep transport safe, convenient, and affordable,” said LTFRB-10 Records Officer Atty. Maulana Ahmad III.
Who is most affected?
Inflation hit hardest among the bottom 30% of income households, where the rate reached 8.7% in April.
These families are most affected by rising food prices, particularly rice (19.0%) and corn (23.0%), which significantly impact food security.
Regional breakdown
Lanao del Norte posted the highest inflation at 9.4%, followed by Iligan City at 9.3% and Bukidnon at 9.2%.
Cagayan de Oro City recorded 7.4%, up from 5.1% in March and reversing the -0.4% deflation in April 2025.
Misamis Oriental rose to 6.9%, more than double its previous month, while Camiguin posted the lowest at 4.3%, though up sharply from 0.2% in March.
Minor relief was seen in clothing and footwear, and health services, which posted slight declines compared to March.
