CONTROLLING inflation remains the top national concern for majority of Filipinos, while staying healthy and avoiding illness is the leading personal concern for adult Filipinos, the November 10 to 16 “Tugon ng Masa” survey of the Octa Research showed.
The fourth quarter survey, which involved 1,200 adult respondents nationwide with a margin of error of ±3 percent, showed that 56 percent of Filipinos consider controlling inflation or the rising prices of basic goods and services as the top national concern, down from 66 percent in the third quarter.
The other top two and three national concerns are having access to affordable food like rice, vegetables, and meat at 44 percent (up from 39 percent), and improving or increasing wages or salaries of workers at 36 percent (down from 39 percent).
The other national concerns of Filipinos are reducing poverty (34 percent); creating more jobs (29 percent); providing free quality education 17 percent); fighting graft and corruption in government (14 percent); defending and strengthening ownership over the West Philippine Sea (13 percent); fighting criminality (12 percent); and promoting peace and order 12 percent).
Filipinos are also concerned with enforcing the law on all whether influential or ordinary people (9 percent); controlling the population (5 percent); reducing taxes (5 percent); protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (4 percent); defending the integrity of the Philippines against foreigner (4 percent); and preparing to face terrorist threat (4 percent).
Other national concerns are stopping the abuse and destruction of the environment (3 percent); and changing the Constitution (1 percent).
Across geographical areas and socio-economic classes, controlling inflation is the top urgent national concern with the most concern in Metro Manila (60 percent), followed by Mindanao (5 percent), the Visayas (55 percent) and Luzon (53 percent); and among Class E (67 percent), followed by Class D (56 percent), and Class ABC (37 percent).
OCTA Research also found that for urgent personal concerns, Filipinos are most concerned with staying healthy and avoiding illness at 70 percent, followed by having a secure and well-paying job or source of income at 52 percent, providing education for their children or finishing schooling at 51 percent, and having enough to eat every day at 50 percent.
Other personal concerns are avoiding becoming a victim of any serious crimes (39 percent); being able to have savings (22 percent); and owning a house and lot (16 percent).
Across geographical areas and socio-economic classes, staying healthy and avoiding illness is a top personal concern with the highest in Luzon at 79 percent, followed by the Visayas at 66 percent, Metro Manila at 63 percent, and Mindanao at 57 percent; and among Class D at 73 percent, Class ABC at 5 percent, and Class E at 4 percent.