MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Inflation rates in Pangasinan and La Union accelerated sharply in April, rising to 7.4 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, from 3.7 percent and 4.1 percent in March, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Ilocos Regional Office.

During a forum on Wednesday, PSA Pangasinan officer-in-charge Verna Palsimon said the rise in Pangasinan’s inflation rate was mainly driven by increases in the transport commodity group.

Other major contributors were food and non-alcoholic beverages, particularly rice, as well as housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels.

Higher inflation rates were also recorded in alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance; recreation, sport, and culture; and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services.

Meanwhile, lower inflation rates were observed in health, information and communication, and restaurants and accommodation services. Education and financial services remained unchanged.

In the same forum, PSA La Union Chief Statistical Specialist Danites Teñido said the main driver of inflation in La Union was the food and non-alcoholic beverages commodity group.

This was followed by housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, particularly liquefied hydrocarbons delivered in storage containers, as well as the transport commodity group, especially gasoline and diesel prices.

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco also posted higher inflation rates in April, while clothing and footwear registered lower inflation.

Teñido added that furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance, health, information and communication, recreation, sport and culture, education services, and financial services recorded unchanged inflation rates in April and March.

Department of Agriculture (DA)-Ilocos Region project evaluation officer Milagros dela Cruz attributed the rising prices to soaring oil costs, which have increased transportation, logistics, input, and operational expenses for farmers.

Despite this, Dela Cruz said the DA has implemented programs to help cushion the impact of fuel price hikes on farmers.

“Through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, we provide free trucks and fuel to our farmers so that they can transport their products to our markets. They just have to request from DA and indicate in the letter request the product that they will transport, the destination, and the volume of products,” she said. (PNA)