Inflation in the Negros Island Region (NIR) accelerated to 7.2 percent in October 2026, up from 6.9 percent in September 2026 and sharply higher than the 0.4 percent recorded in October 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported at a press conference in Dumaguete City on November 12, 2026.
Despite the regional increase, Negros Oriental held steady at 6.9 percent — unchanged from September 2026 — according to PSA Negros Oriental Chief Statistical Specialist Ariel T. Fortuito, who presented the provincial results at the same briefing.
NIR Ranks Fourth Lowest Among Philippine Regions
The PSA Regional Statistical Services Office for the Negros Island Region placed the region fourth lowest in inflation among all regions of the country in October 2026, according to Ma. Goretti M. Novilla, Chief Statistical Specialist of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division of PSA-RSSO NIR, who delivered the regional report.
Novilla and Fortuito presented the figures before media and government representatives at the PSA-RSSO NIR press conference,.
Provincial and City Breakdown for October 2026
PSA’s slides showed the following October 2026 inflation rates, with September 2026 figures in parentheses: Negros Occidental, 6.7 percent (6.4); Negros Oriental, 6.9 percent (6.9); Bacolod City, 8.7 percent (8.4); and Siquijor, 9.0 percent (9.1).
Siquijor recorded the highest rate among the four geographic areas covered by the NIR figures, though it also registered a slight moderation from 9.1 percent in September. Bacolod City posted the second-highest rate and continued to accelerate month-on-month.
Transport the Primary Driver of Regional Acceleration
The PSA identified transport as the leading source of the October acceleration, according to data presented at the press conference. Transport inflation climbed to 15.1 percent in October 2026 from 12.7 percent in September 2026, and accounted for 66.1 percent of the uptrend in regional inflation.
Within the transport category, gasoline inflation jumped to 45.5 percent in October from 36.3 percent the previous month. Other passenger transport by road rose to 4.5 percent from 3.4 percent in September 2026.
Information and communication was the third main source of acceleration, rising to 3.2 percent in October from 2.6 percent in September, with fixed communication services reaching 13.6 percent against 7.6 percent a month earlier, according to PSA figures.
Food Prices Remain Elevated Across the Region
Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation for the NIR stood at 6.3 percent in October 2026, according to the PSA. Within the group, cereals and cereal products registered 11.3 percent, up from 10.5 percent in September; fish and other seafood eased to 9.4 percent from 11.0 percent; and vegetables, tubers and similar items rose to 7.2 percent from 5.2 percent.
Rice was the single largest commodity contributor to regional inflation, posting an inflation rate of 11.9 percent in October against 10.7 percent in September, and contributing 1.03 percentage points to the overall NIR figure. Gasoline followed with a contribution of 0.78 percentage points at 45.5 percent inflation.
Restaurants, cafes and the like contributed 0.48 percentage points at a steady 6.6 percent; rentals contributed 0.42 percentage points after rising from 2.9 percent to 3.6 percent; and electricity from all sources contributed 0.38 percentage points, even as its inflation rate eased from 14.6 percent to 10.1 percent between the two months.
Negros Oriental: Rice and Corn Drive Food Inflation
For Negros Oriental specifically, the PSA said food and non-alcoholic beverages were the leading contributor to provincial inflation, registering 9.0 percent and accounting for a 49.1 percent share.
Rice inflation in Negros Oriental reached 22.0 percent in October 2026, edging up from 21.7 percent in September, according to PSA data presented by Fortuito. Corn inflation stood at 28.1 percent in October, slightly lower than the 28.7 percent recorded in September.
Poorest Households in Negros Oriental Bear the Highest Burden
Among the province’s bottom 30 percent income households, inflation reached 9.6 percent in October 2026, rising from 8.8 percent in September 2026 and reversing sharply from a negative 2.1 percent recorded in October 2025, the PSA reported.
During the open forum following the presentation, Fortuito cautioned that the provincial picture is not necessarily the same as the regional picture because the market basket differs by province. He noted that the bottom 30 percent income households were the most affected segment in Negros Oriental.
Fortuito called on government agencies to provide appropriate programs to address the concern, according to the PSA press conference proceedings on November 12, 2026.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of PSA Negros Island Region
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