Agusan Norte strengthens food production as inflation slows
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Agusan del Norte is strengthening local food production and agricultural value chains as the province’s inflation rate slowed to 11.9 percent in July 2026, from 13.8 percent in June, with food and non-alcoholic beverages accounting for the biggest share of the downward movement, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Agusan del Norte.
The development comes as the national and provincial governments continue efforts to stabilize prices, strengthen food security, ensure adequate supply of essential commodities, and protect household purchasing power. These interventions include price monitoring, support for farmers and fisherfolk, food production and distribution initiatives, and measures to improve agricultural productivity and market access, consistent with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to address inflation and strengthen the country’s food security.
Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante has prioritized agriculture and food security through investments in rice, fisheries, coconut, corn, coffee, and livestock, to increase productivity, strengthen value chains, and improve market access for farmers and fisherfolk.
The provincial government has also established three operational Rice Processing Systems (RPS) in Jabonga, Cabadbaran City, and Remedios T. Romualdez, helping improve post-harvest processing, reduce losses, increase the value of farmers’ produce, and strengthen the local rice supply chain.
The province is likewise integrating livelihood and employment interventions with food production through the Agusan Up! Plant! Plant! Plant! program. Workers under the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program have been engaged in planting cacao, coffee, vegetables, fruit-bearing trees, and other high-value crops.
The initiative seeks to provide immediate employment while building a more sustainable agricultural sector that can generate longer-term livelihood opportunities and contribute to local food production.
PSA Agusan del Norte Chief Statistical Specialist Reynelo S. Magno said the July inflation rate brought the province’s average inflation from January to July 2026 to 9.4 percent.
Among the 13 commodity groups, food and non-alcoholic beverages had the biggest contribution to the downward movement in the province’s overall inflation. The commodity group recorded 9.2 percent inflation in July, lower than the 12.0 percent in June, and accounted for 69.4 percent of the total decrease in the province’s inflation rate.
Transport also contributed to the downward trend, with its inflation rate decreasing to 27.9 percent in July from 31.4 percent in June. It accounted for 17.2 percent of the overall decrease in inflation.
Meanwhile, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels registered a lower inflation rate of 14.5 percent in July, from 15.7 percent in June, contributing 10.6 percent to the downward trend.
Food inflation in Agusan del Norte also decelerated to 9.4 percent in July from 12.5 percent in June, although it remained higher than the -2.6 percent recorded in July 2025.
The decline was primarily driven by vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses, which posted an inflation rate of 7.8 percent in July, down sharply from 27.4 percent in June. This commodity group accounted for 45.8 percent of the overall decrease in food inflation during the month.
Fish and other seafood likewise recorded a lower inflation rate of 13.3 percent in July, from 16.5 percent in June, contributing 18.6 percent to the downward trend in food inflation.
Meanwhile, meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals posted -7.0 percent inflation in July, compared with -4.0 percent in June, contributing 17.2 percent to the overall food inflation trend.
The movement in food prices highlights the importance of strengthening local agricultural production and ensuring efficient food supply chains. Provincial investments in production, post-harvest facilities, livelihood support, and market access complement national efforts to maintain adequate food supply and protect consumers from price pressures.
The agricultural initiatives under Governor Amante also support the broader national food security agenda by helping farmers and fisherfolk improve productivity and livelihood opportunities while contributing to the availability of locally produced food.
The continuing coordination among national and provincial agencies on production, distribution, price monitoring, and market support forms part of the government’s broader response to inflation and its efforts to protect the purchasing power of Filipino families.
For Agusan del Norte, strengthening local food production remains an important part of the broader effort to improve food security, create sustainable livelihoods for farmers and fisherfolk, and help ensure that essential commodities remain available and accessible to consumers.
The latest inflation figures provide government agencies, local governments, businesses, and consumers with important information for monitoring price movements and guiding interventions that promote price stability, food security, stronger local production, and the welfare of Filipino families. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
