The prices of basic goods, increase in workers’ wage, and access to affordable food are among the top and urgent national concerns of adult Filipinos, a non-commissioned survey conducted by OCTA Research revealed.

The independent Tugon ng Masa (TNM) poll, which was held from Oct. 23 until Oct. 27, covered a total of 1,200 male and female respondents aged 18 years and above. Through the poll, chosen respondents were asked to name the three “most important issues” that the current administration must immediately address.

Among the poll of national concerns, at least 57 percent of the respondents answered “Controlling the increase in prices of basic goods and services.” It was followed by “Improving/Increasing wages or salaries of workers” at 48 percent, and last – “Access to affordable food” at 46 percent.

OCTA Research compared this data to the same survey conducted in 2021, which showed that one of the most urgent national concerns last year was “Controlling the spread of Covid-19.”

“ has since significantly declined in rank over the last few quarters as an area of concern for most adult Filipinos. During the period of the survey, only a minority of adult Filipinos (9 percent) still consider an urgent concern,” said OCTA.

The increase in prices of basic goods, on the other hand, emerged as the topmost national concern of Filipinos beginning March 2022.

National concerns

Other significant national concerns of adult Filipinos include creation of more jobs (29 percent), provision of free and quality education (26 percent), poverty (24 percent), graft and corruption in the government (11 percent), peace and order in the country (9 percent), fighting criminality (9 percent), and controlling the spread of Covid-19 (9 percent).

Completing the list of urgent national concerns are the following: reducing the amount of taxes paid by Filipinos (7 percent), enforcing the law on all (7 percent), stopping the destruction of the environment (6 percent), fast population growth and protection of Overseas Filipino Workers (3 percent), as well as protecting the integrity of the Philippine territory and preparing to face any kinds of terrorist threat (1 percent).

Personal concerns

In the same survey, OCTA asked the respondents to name their primary personal concerns. The following emerged as the top three urgent personal concerns of adult Filipinos: “To stay healthy and avoid illnesses” at 68 percent; “To have a secure and well-paying job or source of income” at 50 percent; and “To finish schooling or be able to provide schooling for our children” at 48 percent.

“The only time “to stay healthy and avoid illnesses” was not the topmost concern was last March 2022. During that period, health concerns were replaced by income issues as inflation began to rise,” OCTA explained.