The headline inflation in Sarangani dropped to 4.6 percent in March 2024 from 5.0 percent in February 2024. This is higher than the regional and national levels at 4.4 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. Inflation rate in March 2023 was higher at 8.7 percent. Average inflation for the first quarter of the year stood at 4.8 percent.

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES Headline inflation rate or the annual rate of change on the prices of goods and services in the market basket for all income households in SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased to 4.4% in March 2024 from 5.0% the previous month. This is 0.7 percentage point higher than the 3.7% national headline inflation for the current month under review.

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES The headline inflation in Sarangani increased to 5.0 percent in February 2024 from 4.7 percent in January 2024. This is higher than the national level at 3.4 percent and same with the regional level. The inflation rate in February 2023 was higher at 9.1 percent. The inflation for the first two months of the year averaged 4.8 percent. (Table 1 and Figure 1). The acceleration in the province’s inflation rate in February 2024 was primarily due to the annual increase in the transport index at 1.3 percent from -0.9 percent inflation in January 2024. This was followed by the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at -1.5 percent from -2.1 percent and food and non-alcoholic beverages at 7.6 percent from 7.5 percent in January 2024. (Table 2).

The headline inflation or the annual rate of change on the prices of goods and services in the market basket in General Santos City increased to 3.5 percent in February 2024 from last month’s inflation at 2.9 percent. This was lower than the regional level at 5.0 percent and higher than the national level at 3.4 percent. This was also lower by 3.4 percentage points from a year ago of the same month at 6.9 percent. The average inflation or the year-to-date inflation of the city was recorded at 3.2 percent.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - Sarangani Provincial Statistical Office and the Municipal Planning and Development Office – Malungon represented the Municipal CBMS Coordination Board (MCCB) headed by the Chairperson, Municipal Mayor, Hon. Atty. Maria Theresa D. Constantino, by taking a significant step towards enhancing community development through a massive information campaign throughout the Municipality for the upcoming 2024 CBMS Synchronous Implementation.

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES Headline inflation rate or the annual rate of change on the prices of goods and services in the market basket for all income households in SOCCSKSARGEN Region increased to 5.0% in February 2024 from 4.1% the previous month. This is 1.6 percentage point higher than the 3.4% national headline inflation for the current month under review.

The inflation rate of South Cotabato’s bottom 30% income households increased to 7.2 percent in February 2024 from 6.0 percent in January 2024. It was lower by 1.0 percentage points from the same month last year at 8.2 percent and 1.2 percentage points higher from January 2024 at 6.0 percent.

The headline inflation or the annual rate of change on the prices of goods and services in the market basket of South Cotabato increased to 6.0 percent in February 2024. It was lower by 1.6 percentage points from the same month last year at 7.6 percent and 1.1 percentage points higher from January 2024 at 4.9 percent.

The headline inflation rate or the year-on-year change in the prices of goods and services commonly purchased by people in the province of Sultan Kudarat increased to 4.9 percent in February 2024 from 3.8 percent recorded in January 2024. In February 2023, the inflation rate was higher at 6.7 percent.

The Municipal CBMS Coordinating Board Convening in Maasim, Sarangani Province was held at the Conference Hall, New Administrative Building, Municipal Compound, Maasim, Sarangani Province on January 9, 2024. The Municipal Administrator Anecito F. Lopez III presided over the meeting in behalf of Honorable Zyrex C. Pacquiao, Municipal Mayor of Maasim, Sarangani Province. He called the meeting to order declaring quorum with 14 out of 24 member agencies including Municipal Mayo’s Office, Philippine Statistics Authority, Municipal Planning and Development Office, Social Welfare and Development Office, Engineering Office, Environment and Natural Resources Office, Human Resource and Management Office, Budget Office, Civil Registry Office, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Tourism Office, Department of Education, Philippine National Police, Sangguniang Bayan, Association of Barangay Captains, and Civil Society Organizations and the private sector.