Filipinos Seek Government's Plan on Inflation

The rising cost of living in the Philippines has become a major concern for Filipino adults, with 72% stating that controlling inflation should be an immediate priority for the national administration. This is according to data from Pulse Asia's latest "Ulat ng Bayan" survey conducted last June. 

Inflation control was identified as the most pressing issue among 17 listed by Pulse Asia, making it the only one seen as urgently needing addressal by a majority of Filipinos. The second highest ranked issue was increasing workers' pay (44%), followed by poverty reduction (32%) and job creation (30%). 

On the flip side, preparing for terrorism and amending the Constitution were deemed least important, garnering just 2% and 1% respectively. 

Concerns on inflation are notably high among residents of Mindanao at 77%, Luzon outside Metro Manila at 74%, as well as in Metro Manila itself and Visayas which both scored above average at around two-thirds. These sentiments cut across different socioeconomic classes - Class E (74%), Class D (73%) and even those classified under Classes A, B & C combined at a sizeable 64%. 

Interestingly enough, when asked about what they would like President Marcos to discuss or mention during his State Of Nation Address (SONA), over half of Filipinos cited inflation again – marking it out yet again as their primary concern. 

This sentiment is echoed across all geographic areas ranging from bare majority to considerable majorities between fifty-one to sixty-three percent; along with socio-economic classes scoring between fifty-eight percent up till sixty-six percent. 

Filipinos also wish President Marcos would touch upon other issues such improving our national economy which got thirty-six percent votes; creating more jobs/livelihoods notched thirty-five percent while actions taken against incursion into Philippine territory in West Philippine Sea received thirty-one percent support. 

Pulse Asia’s survey also revealed how Filipinos gauge their government's performance on certain issues. The Marcos administration scored well in protecting the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with a 70% approval rating, and responding to areas affected by calamities at 64%. 

However, it was not all good news as disapproval ratings for handling inflation topped at an alarming 76%. Other areas where the administration received negative feedback were poverty reduction and increasing workers' pay, both scoring high disapproval rates. 

This survey puts into perspective what Filipinos care about most - a balanced economy that reduces their cost of living. It also highlights how they perceive their government's actions or lack thereof towards achieving this balance. With these insights, one hopes that the national administration will take note and act accordingly to address these pressing concerns. 

The Pulse Asia survey interviewed around 2,400 adult respondents nationwide with a margin of error set at plus-or-minus two percentage points at the ninety-five percent confidence level.