TACLOBAN CITY — The inflation rate in Eastern Visayas slightly increased to 0.5 percent in October 2025 from 0.4 percent in September, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) regional office.

The region’s average inflation rate from January to October stood at 0.6 percent, lower than the national rate of 1.7 percent during the same period. In October last year, Eastern Visayas registered a higher inflation rate of 2.1 percent.

PSA said the uptick in inflation was mainly driven by higher prices in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which rose to 0.4 percent from a 0.7 percent decline in September. Faster inflation was also recorded in the health sector (2.6 percent from 2.3 percent) and in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (4.0 percent from 3.8 percent).

Commodity groups such as personal care, miscellaneous goods and services, and clothing and footwear also showed slight increases in their respective inflation rates. In contrast, the transport sector slowed to 0.9 percent from 1.1 percent, while food and non-alcoholic beverages posted an annual price decline of 0.2 percent.

Among provinces, Samar posted the highest inflation rate at 1.9 percent, followed by Biliran at 1.0 percent, while Eastern Samar recorded the lowest at -0.7 percent. Tacloban City, the region’s lone highly urbanized city, registered an inflation rate of 1.2 percent.
PSA data, which it released on Wednesday, Nov. 12, also showed that food inflation in the region continued to decline at -0.6 percent in October, mainly due to slower price increases in meat, vegetables, and sugar.

The PSA noted that inflation measures the rate of change in the average prices of goods and services typically purchased by households and is based on the 2018 consumer price index (CPI) series.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has lifted its temporary ban on sea travel across Eastern Visayas after the weather significantly improved following the passage of Super Typhoon “Uwan.”

In a notice to mariners issued Monday morning, Nov. 10, the PCG said the decision was based on the latest advisory from the DOST-Pagasa’s Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 16, which reported calmer seas and reduced wind strength in most parts of the region.
“With reference to DOST-Pagasa Tropical Cyclone Bulletin Number 16, this station lifts the temporary suspension of voyages for all vessels and watercraft,” the advisory stated, though it reminded ship owners and operators to exercise “extreme caution” and remain alert to updated weather and safety bulletins.

In Northern Samar, which serves as the main maritime gateway to Luzon through the Allen seaports, sea operations have resumed after nearly 600 passengers were stranded during the suspension.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Rei Josiah Echano said the province suffered minimal damage despite enduring nearly 18 hours of fierce winds and rains. He credited the zero-casualty outcome to the timely evacuation of around 45,706 residents before the storm’s landfall.

“All local government units reported zero casualties in their situational reports submitted to the Northern Samar Emergency Operations Center as of Nov. 9,” Echano said.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app, has teamed up with CARD Indogrosir, a hybrid local retail chain that caters not just to retail customers but also wholesale clients. Through this partnership, GCash is rolling out SoundPay devices in all CARD Indogrosir stores, enabling faster and more efficient transactions.

Powered by a compact device that emits a distinct audio cue upon a successful payment, SoundPay allows merchants to confirm transactions instantly—no need to check phones or request screenshots. This scan-to-pay system is especially useful in areas with limited connectivity, where reliability and speed are essential.

These devices are already available in 29 branches of CARD Indogrosir, with plans to add 44 more before the year ends, and expand this to a total 200 stores by next year.
For GCash users, SoundPay delivers a more intuitive, secure, and modern payment experience. For merchants, it streamlines operations, reduces delays, and supports smoother interactions with both bulk buyers and walk-in customers.

By integrating SoundPay into CARD Indogrosir’s retail network, GCash is enabling more businesses to adopt digital payments with confidence and ease.

“This partnership is about meeting users where they are and making payments work better for everyone. SoundPay brings speed, simplicity, and trust to everyday transactions,” said Jong Layug at Group Head of GCash for Business.

“At CARD MRI, we believe that inclusive growth begins with empowering the smallest entrepreneurs – our Sari-sari store owner members. Through our partnership with GCash and SoundPay, we are not only modernizing payments but also creating opportunities for every member of the CARD community as well as the general public to grow, compete, and thrive,” said Frederick Torres, EVP for CARD Indogrosir.

As SoundPay begins its rollout, GCash continues to lead the way in building financial systems that are not only innovative but inclusive—enabling merchants and customers to transact with greater ease, trust, and relevance—one tap at a time.

CARD Indogrosir is a joint venture between CARD MRI—the largest microfinance institution in the Philippines—and Indonesia’s Indogrosir under the Salim Group. It was founded in 2023, aligned with CARD MRI’s ultimate goal of eradicating poverty in the country, as it helps support Filipino micro-retailers by giving them access to wholesale pricing, logistics solutions, and much-needed financial services—making it a strategic partner in the inclusive innovation push of GCash. (PR)