Controlling inflation, raising the pay of workers, and creating more jobs are the top three concerns of Filipinos, unchanged from three months ago and from last year, the September 10 to 14 Ulat ng Bayan survey of Pulse Asia Research showed.
The survey, which involved 1,200 adult respondents nationwide. had a margin of error of ±2.8 percent.
The survey was conducted on the heels of the postponement of the planned importation of rice due to high prices, the implementation of price ceiling for regular and well-milled rice, the distribution of cash assistance to small micro and small rice retailers, and the rise in headline inflation from 4.7 percent in July 2023 to 5.3 percent in August due to the higher increases in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, among others.
The September 2023 Pulse Asia data showed majority of Filipinos or 74 percent are concerned about controlling inflation, up from 63 percent in June and 66 percent from last year.
It is also the main concern of the majority of Filipinos across geographical locations (66 percent to 80 percent) and socioeconomic status (67 percent to 75 percent).
The other national concerns of Filipinos based on the survey are: increasing the pay of workers with 49 percent (up from 44 percent in June and September 2022); creating more jobs, 27 percent (down from 31 percent and 35 percent, respectively), reducing poverty, 25 percent (from 30 percent and 34 percent), and fighting graft and corruption in government, 22 percent (from 25 percent and 22 percent).
The other concerns are: fighting criminality with 18 percent (up from 13 percent and down from 19 percent); resolving the problem of involuntary hunger, 14 percent (from 16 percent and 17 percent); providing assistance to farmers with 13 percent (from 15 percent) and; enforcing the rule of law, 11 percent (from 16 percent and 12 percent).
Filipinos are also concerned with helping small entrepreneurs to restore their businesses, 9 percent (from 10 percent and 9 percent); promoting peace with 9 percent (from 11 percent and 8 percent), protecting the environment, 8 percent (from 7 and 9 percent); defending the national territorial integrity, 7 percent (6 percent and 5 percent); reducing the amount of taxes paid by citizens, 7 percent (unchanged from June this year and from last year); protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, 4 percent (unchanged from June 2023 and September 2022) and; preparing to face terroristic threats, 3 percent (from 4 percent and 2 percent). Jocelyn Montemayor
