A majority of Filipinos want President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. focus on reducing food prices amid persistent inflation.
The report, which surveyed 1,500 respondents nationwide from September 24 to 30, revealed that 56% of Filipinos believe lowering the price of rice and other food items should be the government's top priority.
About 31% urged the administration to address corruption, underscoring public frustration over growing concerns about transparency in governance amid a billion-dollar public works scandal. Only 7% of respondents cited education as a top priority, and 4% mentioned health care, while 3% were undecided.
“This survey highlights the urgent reality that Filipinos are still struggling to afford basic food,” Stratbase Group Chairman Victor Andres C. Manhit said in a statement Tuesday.
“The more they cannot afford the price of basic food like rice, the more they will call for concrete reforms on corruption – issues that the President himself has raised before the Filipino public.”
The SWS findings also revealed regional variations, with inflation concerns most pronounced in the Visayas and Mindanao, cited by 61% of respondents.
Rural residents were more likely than urban residents to identify inflation as a primary concern, reflecting the uneven impact of rising prices across different regions.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, official data showed headline inflation in the Philippines rose to 1.7% in September – the fastest pace in six months – amid weather-related supply disruptions fueled by costlier vegetables and fuel, adding to economic pressure.
This comes despite inflation remaining below the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' 2-4% target range.
National Statistician Claire Denis S. Mapa had previously said prices were expected to rise, citing the lingering effects of the July storm and floods, which kept vegetable prices rising through September.
The typhoon-prone country continues to grapple with weather-related supply shocks, which have disrupted agricultural production and driven up prices of food, especially vegetables and rice.
Such conditions have kept inflation pressures high despite government efforts to stabilize supply and expand imports.
Meanwhile, demand for curbing corruption was highest in Metro Manila, where 45% of respondents ranked it as their top concern.
Stratbase said the results “indicate the demand for responsive leadership that delivers both solid economic results and clean governance,” adding that the administration should realign its policies to reduce the cost of living while ensuring transparency and accountability.
Corruption issues have been troubling the Philippines since Mr Marcos's announcements during his fourth State of the Nation address last July, where he exposed lawmakers allegedly receiving bribes from flood control projects. – Chloe Marie A Hufana
