NINETY percent of Filipinos said they would vote for a candidate who advocates agriculture development and food security, the February 15 to 19 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.
The Stratbase Consultancy Group commissioned a survey, which involved 1,800 respondents nationwide with a margin of error of two percent, showed that candidates advocating agriculture development and food security remain the top choice of Filipinos at 90 percent, down from 94 percent in January.
Eight of 10 Filipinos or 81 percent (down from 85 percent) would also vote for candidates who advocate controlling the prices of basic services and goods.
Stratbase President Dindo Manhit said the February results reflect the current top priorities of the Filipino people concerned about the affordability and accessibility of essential goods, particularly food.
“We need candidates who will prioritize food security and take decisive action to address the rising prices of essential goods that Filipinos rely on. Strengthening the agriculture sector and ensuring a stable food supply can ultimately help control the cost of basic goods and services while also reducing poverty and hunger across the country,” Manhit said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country’s overall inflation rate in January 2025 remained at 2.9 percent, unchanged from December 2024, while food inflation rose to 4 percent from 3.5 percent during the same period.
Manhit said the continued rise in the prices of essential goods such as food puts additional strain on households, especially those in lower-income brackets.
“These staples are essential in every household and play a crucial role in daily nutrition and survival. The rising costs of these basic food items further highlight the growing concern over food affordability and its impact on Filipino families. This persistent upward trend in prices highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring food affordability and accessibility, making it a critical issue that candidates must address in the upcoming elections,” he said.
Last January, the SWS found that the top two issues or advocacies that would make a voter vote for a candidate are the development of agriculture and ensuring food security, increasing job opportunities at 94 percent each.
The other concerns or advocacies are strengthening the health care system (93 percent); equal access to education and workers’ rights and overseas Filipino workers’ welfare (92 percent each); and reducing poverty and hunger and addressing the impact of climate change (87 percent each).
Voters also prefer candidates who advocate controlling the prices of basic goods and services (85 percent); defending national security and sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (83 percent); energy security and usage of renewable energy (82 percent); and fighting illegal drugs and electoral reforms and technological modernization of the elections (79 percent each).
