By Mariela Angella Oladive
As the cost of living continues to rise, many Ilonggos are prioritizing inflation as a key factor in their decision-making for the upcoming May 12 midterm elections.
Residents, particularly from the working class, are feeling the strain of increasing prices and are urging candidates to focus on economic relief and wage adjustments.
Francis, a 46-year-old trisikad driver, expressed frustration over the soaring prices of essential goods, which have made it harder for him to afford daily necessities.
“If only the prices of goods were lower, so that poor people like us could afford them. Essentials like rice and fish should be more affordable. As a tricycle driver, there are times when I struggle to buy these things,” he told Daily Guardian, noting that he earns only PHP300 to PHP500 daily on average.
Jerry, a 53-year-old tricycle driver, echoed similar concerns.
“Prices keep going up, but they should at least be manageable for the poor,” he said.
An employee of a direct-selling company stressed the need for wage increases to keep up with inflation.
“The prices of goods keep going up. This should be the focus of our leaders. If possible, they should also increase salaries, especially for workers like us who are minimum wage earners. It’s even harder if we have children in school,” he said.
The daily minimum wage in Western Visayas currently ranges from PHP485 to PHP513 in the non-agriculture sector and PHP480 in the agriculture sector.
A 62-year-old dried fish vendor emphasized the need for politicians to fulfill their promises and address economic struggles.
“They should be true to their promises and focus on the real issues affecting people. They should work for the interest of the public, not their self-interest,” she said.
INFLATION IN WV RISES
The inflation rate in Western Visayas climbed to 3.6% in January 2025, up from 3.4% in December, making it the third highest among regions outside the National Capital Region (NCR), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-6.
The region’s inflation also surpassed the national rate of 2.9%.
PSA-6 Statistical Specialist I Miguel Gallego explained that the increase was driven by higher costs in food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, and restaurant and accommodation services.
Food inflation in the region rose to 3.4% in January from 2.8% in December, with significant price hikes recorded in fish and seafood, vegetables, and meat.
Transport inflation also increased from 1.8% to 2.2%, while restaurant and accommodation services saw inflation rise from 5.6% to 6.0%.
Among the 13 major commodity groups, eight experienced higher inflation rates compared to December.
Gallego also noted that inflation had been on a steady upward trend for the past three months, with the January rate being the highest since October 2024.
Iloilo province recorded the highest inflation rate in the region at 5.4%, up from 4.2% in December.
Iloilo City followed with a 5.1% inflation rate, slightly lower than its 5.4% rate in the previous month.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Western Visayas showed a 31.1% increase in the cost of goods and services since 2018.
A PHP100 basket of goods in 2018 now costs PHP131.10.
The purchasing power of the peso also weakened, with one peso in 2018 now valued at just 76 centavos.
KEY ELECTION ISSUE
With elections scheduled for May 12, Ilonggo voters are closely watching candidates’ economic policies, particularly their proposed solutions for inflation and wage concerns.
The national and local elections will fill key positions, including seats in the Senate, Party-list representatives, the House of Representatives, and various local government offices.
As the campaign season intensifies, economic issues have become a central topic in public discussions.
Candidates are being urged to outline concrete policies addressing the financial struggles faced by many working-class citizens.
