MANAGING inflation and staying healthy are the top concerns of a majority of Filipinos while a near majority want to ensure their children finish school, get stable jobs and have enough to eat, the third quarter Tugon ng Masa (TnM) survey of OctaResearch showed.
The August 28 to September 2 survey, which involved 1,200 adult respondents with a margin of error of ±3 percent, showed the top three urgent national concerns of Filipinos are managing inflation or controlling the prices of basic goods and services at 66 percent (from 65 percent in June), followed by increasing wages or salaries of workers at 39 percent (up from 33 percent), and having access to affordable food like rice, vegetables and meat at 39 percent (from 40 percent).
Managing inflation or controlling the prices of basic goods and services is also the top national concern across geographical locations (53 percent to 70 percent) and socio-economic classes (57 percent to 67 percent)
The other national concerns are creating more jobs at 33 percent (unchanged), providing free quality education at 19 percent (from 18 percent), reducing poverty at 25 percent (down from 28 percent), and fighting graft and corruption in government at 17 percent (unchanged).
Other national concerns include defending and strengthening the ownership of the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea, and promoting peace and order in the country (10 percent each), reducing the amount of taxes paid and fighting criminality (9 percent each), and stopping the destruction of the environment (8 percent).
Filipinos are also concerned about enforcing the law on all whether influential or ordinary people (6 percent), defending the integrity of the territory against foreigners (4 percent), protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (3 percent), controlling population growth (2 percent), and preparing to successfully face any kind of terrorist threat and changing the constitution (1 percent each).
The TNM said the top concerns of Pinoys are staying healthy and avoiding illnesses (73 percent up from 71 percent), securing a well-paying job or source of income (46 percent from 47 percent), finishing schooling or providing school for children (46 percent down from 48 percent), and having enough to eat (45 percent down from 52 percent).
The other personal concerns of Filipinos are avoiding becoming a victim of any serious crime (39 percent), being able to have savings (32 percent), and owning a house and lot (19 percent).
The top personal concern across geographical sectors (64 percent to 78 percent) and socio-economic status (62 percent to 78 percent) is staying healthy and avoiding illnesses.
