By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The government acknowledges the effects of rising inflation on vulnerable sectors, as the Middle East conflict continues to strain the energy market and other related industries around the world, with the Philippines in particular reeling from limited fuel shipments caused by the blockade at the Strait of Hormuz.
In the latest report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday, figures show that the country’s headline inflation rate accelerated to 7.2% in April—higher than the 4.1% recorded in March and 1.4% recorded in May 2025.
This is likewise reflected in the inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households, which soared to 8.5% in April from 4.2% in March.
These increases were largely attributed to upward movements monitored on these three commodity groups:
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages (6.0% in April, up from 2.9% in March)
- Transport (21.4% in April, up from 9.9% in March)
- Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (8.2% in April, up from 4.7% in March)
In response to these worrying numbers, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) reassured the citizenry that it will bolster efforts to tame inflation and shield the common folk from further effects of economic limbo.
DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement, “Amid the Middle East conflict disrupting fuel supply chains, the government is intensifying targeted interventions, particularly to temper upward price pressures on food, energy, and transport, while ensuring the continued stability of domestic supply.”
The Economy secretary moreover shared these findings with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Tuesday’s 6th UPLIFT Committee meeting, likewise pointing out that the weakening of Philippine peso against the U.S. dollar has also contributed to the significant spike in the inflation rate figures for the month of April.
The whole-of-government response to the energy emergency, under the umbrella of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), calls for a concerted effort from various agencies to tackle simultaneous challenges.
For instance, the Department of Energy (DOE) remains in constant search of countries to procure fuel to augment the local supply, among other energy-saving measures.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is implementing a Service Contracting Program (SCP) to maintain profitability in the transportation sector and encourage PUV drivers and operators to continue rendering their services amid oil price shocks.
This, on top of other initiatives launched to alleviate the financial strain of the current situation on PUV drivers and operators, which also include:
- P10/L fuel discount program
- 1-month toll relief for trucks transporting produce
- P1 port fee for agricultural shipments
- TUPAD Tuloy Pasada Program
- Reduced terminal and navigation fees for airline companies
- 50% discount for MRT-3 and LRT-2 passengers
jpv
