House leaders led by Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday welcomed the continued drop in inflation to 1.3 percent in May 2025, the lowest since 2019, calling it “good news” that should be felt directly by Filipino families.
“It sounds simple, but it’s a big deal in family spending. When prices don’t increase, the family stays afloat. The burden becomes light, there is something to spend for rice, fare, electricity and medicines,” Romualdez said.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that inflation slowed to 1.3 percent in May from 1.4 percent in April, bringing the year-to-date average to 1.9 percent — well within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2 to 4 percent target range.
This is also the lowest recorded rate in more than five years.
Romualdez noted that inflation for the bottom 30 percent of households was effectively zero in May, reflecting the government’s success in shielding the poorest sectors from rising prices.
“This isn’t just about charts or graphs. This is about the question every parent asks: Is our income enough to get us through the week? Right now, the answer is a little more hopeful than before,” said the House Speaker.
The PSA attributed the slower inflation to reduced increases in the cost of housing, electricity, gas and water, which rose by only 2.3 percent.
Food inflation also remained low at 0.7 percent, a sharp drop from 6.1 percent in May 2024. Transport costs declined further, while core inflation, which excludes food and energy, held steady at 2.2 percent.
Romualdez credited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the country’s economic managers for their steady and coordinated response to inflation.
“President Marcos has made inflation control a top priority. The results are now becoming clear — less price volatility, more certainty, and concrete benefits for Filipino households,” he said.
This developed as Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House committee on ways and means said the continued decline in inflation to 1.3 percent in May 2025 gives the government valuable room to act with speed and focus.
Salceda urged that this be translated into a national budget that delivers food security, inclusive growth, and visible results.
“We may not be able to increase total spending significantly, but we can spend faster and spend better. With inflation stable, the next step is a good budget. It must be focused, it must move quickly, and it must deliver results that people feel,” he said.
Salceda emphasized five priorities for the 2026 national budget: food security, support for small businesses, strategic infrastructure, timely fund releases to government agencies and local government units, and credible investments in national defense.
He noted that stable inflation allows government to act decisively without adding pressure on prices.
“This is the kind of environment where smart public spending can do the most good. We have the tools. We have the momentum. Now we need a budget that makes it count,” Salceda said.
He also commended the administration’s economic team for managing inflation effectively.
