Reaching for the Demographic Dividend 117

registered uptick in inflation namely, food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, housing water, electricity and gas, education, and communication. (Figure2.1)

The purchasing power of the peso decreased to Php 0.78 from Php0.81 in 2019.

Table 2.1 Inflation Rate, Region XII, CY 2019 and 2020 Commodity Group 2019 2020 Growth

Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco 0.8 1.2 14.5 20.4

Clothing and Footwear

4.9 2.5 Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels 2.9 4.6 Furnishing, Household Equipment, and Routine Maintenance of the House 6.7 3.8 Health 6.4 2.8 Transport 2.5 1.8 Communication 1.5 1.8 Recreation and Culture 3.8 0.8 Education 1.6 4.0 Restaurant and Miscellaneous Goods and Services 5.3 4.1

Source: PSA XII

Critical Incidents

The COVID-19 Pandemic

The first confirmed case in Region XII was recorded on March 17, 2020, known as Patient 145 (PH 145) who had a history of travel to Malaysia and Manila. The LGUs in the region implemented lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the region. As of December 31, 2020, the region has a total of 4,696 confirmed cases, 314 of which are active cases, 167 resulted in death and 4,214 are recovered cases.

CoVID-19 has partially put Region XII’s economy at a halt especially during the 2ndand 3rd quarter of the year as the government with the private sector, planned and strategized its safe reopening by the 4th quarter of the year. The region’s economy contracted by 4.3 percent, from PhP 470 Billion in 2019 toPhP450 Billion in 2020.

African Swine Fever

ASF is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild pigs, which is fatal but does not pose a risk to human health. The hog production in the region slightly declined by 1.43 percent in 2020 because there were areas in the region that were affected by the ASF. Outbreaks of the disease were monitored in Kidapawan City and the municipalities of Arakan, Makilala, President Roxas, and Magpet in Cotabato Province, Koronadal City, South Cotabato, as well as in Glan, Sarangani. The LGUs in the region implemented “modified localized lockdowns” as a precautionary and preventive measure. Also, all live