Inflation still top concern Marcos must address in 4th Sona
Controlling inflation remains the top issue Filipinos want President Marcos to address in his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 28, according to the latest Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan nationwide survey released on Friday.
Conducted from June 26 to June 30, about a month before the Sona, the survey found that almost a third of Filipinos, or 32.9 percent, would like the president to focus on measures to control inflation. This includes reducing prices of goods and services as well as lowering the price of rice to P20 per kilo.
The issue of inflation was most prominent among respondents from the Visayas (44.7 percent), followed by Metro Manila (37.8 percent), and both Luzon outside Metro Manila and Mindanao (each at 28.8 percent).
By economic class, concern about inflation was highest among Class D (34.2 percent), followed by Class ABC (31.4 percent), and Class E (25.3 percent).
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the latest inflation rate was recorded at 1.4 percent in June, slightly up from 1.3 percent in May—the lowest since November 2019, when it stood at 1.2 percent.
Other top issues
A little over a tenth of the respondents expressed a desire for the President to discuss wage hikes at 13.6 percent, and peace and order, including addressing illegal drugs problems, at 13.2 percent.
Other top issues cited in the survey are expanding employment or livelihood opportunities (9.8 percent); reducing poverty or hunger (7.4 percent); and extending assistance to the agricultural sector (4.1 percent).
Issues cited by at least 1 percent of respondents include: continuing financial aid programs (2.8 percent); eliminating corruption (2.4 percent); the return of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippines (2.3 percent); protection of the country’s maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea (1.6 percent); solutions to education concerns (1.3 percent); and ensuring justice in the country (1.1 percent).
Less than 1 percent
Issues mentioned by less than 1 percent include: senior citizen welfare (0.9 percent); war in other countries (0.8 percent); the real state of the economy and addressing concerns of overseas Filipino workers (each at 0.7 percent); Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment, and reconciliation or reducing conflict among government officials (each at 0.6 percent); government accomplishments or achievements (0.5 percent); house and public works, infrastructure and flood control (each at 0.4 percent); lower taxes (0.3 percent); and health care (0.1 percent).
The lowest among the listed issues was calamity assistance or preparedness, cited by just 0.01 percent.
Meanwhile, 1.4 percent of respondents mentioned other unlisted concerns, and 0.3 percent either refused to answer or had no opinion.
Public awareness
For the latest Ulat ng Bayan survey, Pulse Asia interviewed 1,200 adult respondents nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2.8 percentage points at a national level and plus-or-minus 5.7 percent for subnational estimates.
It also measured public awareness of the President’s previous Sonas, and found that a majority—78 percent—had heard, read, or watched coverage of the addresses delivered since June 2022.
Only 22 percent said they were not aware of any of Marcos’ past Sonas.
Awareness was highest in Metro Manila (85 percent), followed by Luzon outside Metro Manila (83 percent), Mindanao (73 percent), and the Visayas (70 percent).
By socioeconomic class, awareness was highest among Class ABC (90 percent), followed by Class D (76 percent) and Class E (74 percent).
