Inflation, salary, food top Pinoy concerns – OCTA

MANILA, Philippines — Controlling the increase in prices of basic commodities remained the most urgent national concern of most Filipinos, according to a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group.

Results of the March 11 to 14 survey released yesterday showed that 66 percent of respondents selected inflation as one of their three most urgent national concerns.

Some 29 percent ranked it first, 21 percent second and 16 percent third.

Inflation was the most urgent national concern across the country, with the highest in Mindanao at 71 percent, followed closely by those in the Visayas at 70 percent, balance Luzon at 64 percent and Metro Manila at 60 percent.

Following inflation were improving the salaries of workers and access to affordable food like rice, vegetable and meat, which were both selected by 44 percent of the respondents.

Compared to a similar survey in December, those who selected inflation as their most urgent concern dropped from 73 percent, while those who selected salaries and wages rose from 34 percent.

Urgency in terms of access to affordable food remained stable from 45 percent in December.

Other issues included in the survey were reducing poverty (30 percent), providing free quality education (18 percent), fighting graft and corruption (12 percent) and promoting peace and order (11 percent).

Obtaining less than 10 percent were equal enforcement of the law (nine percent), fighting criminality (seven percent), reducing the amount of taxes (seven percent), stopping the destruction of the environment (five percent), defending the integrity of Philippine territory (four percent) and controlling population growth (three percent).

These were followed by controlling the spread of COVID-19 (two percent), protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (two percent) and preparing for terrorist threats (one percent).

Only one percent of the respondents selected Charter change as among their top three most urgent national concern.

The same survey also asked respondents to identify their top three urgent personal concerns.

Staying healthy topped the list at 71 percent, followed by having enough to eat every day (57 percent), finishing school or providing education to their children (44 percent) and having a secure and well-paying source of income (38 percent).

Other personal concerns in the list were to avoid being a victim of serious crime (34 percent), to have savings (32 percent) and to own a house and lot (23 percent).

OCTA’s Tugon ng Masa survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.