Rising prices, wage concerns, and government corruption remain the most pressing national issues for Filipinos, according to the latest OCTA Research survey released on Friday.
The March 19 to 25 Tugon ng Masa poll, conducted among 1,200 adult respondents with a ±3 percent margin of error, found that inflation or rising prices of basic goods continues to be the most urgent concern for 45 percent of Filipinos. This was followed by demands for higher wages at 33 percent, and concerns over graft and corruption in government at 26 percent.
Although rankings shifted slightly from the previous quarter, OCTA noted that the same three issues continue to dominate public concern, reflecting persistent cost-of-living pressures affecting household budgets.
The survey showed inflation concerns were highest in the Visayas at 54 percent and Mindanao at 51 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 40 percent and the rest of Luzon at 39 percent. It also ranked as the top concern across socioeconomic classes, particularly among Class E (56 percent) and Class ABC (54 percent).
Beyond inflation and wages, Filipinos also identified a range of other pressing national issues, including access to affordable food (24 percent), poverty reduction (20 percent), and lowering rice prices (17 percent). Education, job creation, and support for the poor were also among the priorities cited by respondents.
Smaller but still significant concerns included assistance for farmers, crime prevention, tax reduction, hunger, support for small businesses, and fuel subsidies. Issues such as territorial defense, environmental protection, overseas workers’ welfare, and constitutional reform were also mentioned, though at lower levels of concern.
OCTA said the findings suggest that while inflation remains the dominant national issue, broader economic challenges continue to shape public opinion, especially those affecting daily survival and financial stability.
On a personal level, Filipinos remain most concerned about staying healthy (67 percent), followed by ensuring enough food for daily consumption (46 percent). Other top personal priorities include securing stable income, building savings, completing education for children, avoiding crime, and owning a home.
The research group noted that while health remains the top personal priority, financial resilience is increasingly becoming a central concern, reflecting growing anxiety over economic security amid ongoing price pressures.