Filipinos expect President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address the country’s pressing issues such as high inflation, poverty, unemployment, corruption and the economy in general, according to the results of a second-quarter survey which were released a week before the Chief Executives’ second State of the Nation Address on July 24.
This is based on the PAHAYAG 2023-Q2 survey results which say that Filipinos want the president to “primary focus on these pressing issues.”
About 17 percent of Filipinos consider the Philippine economy as the most important macro issue for President Marcos to address.
“This finding highlights the significance placed on economic stability and growth by a substantial portion of the population,” says the survey.
Corruption was also a major concern, with 14 percent of respondents identifying it as a critical issue.
The poll says 13 percent of participants expressed worries over high prices and inflation, while poverty and unemployment received 12 percent and 10 percent of the respondents’ attention, respectively.
The survey also reveals variations in concerns among different demographic groups. Within the 18 to 24-year-old age bracket, poverty was identified as the topmost concern by 17 percent of respondents.
It says in the 25 to 29-year-old demographic, jobs were seen as the primary issue, with 16 percent of respondents highlighting its importance.
Mindanao demonstrated a unique perspective, with peace and order ranking as the primary concern for 8 percent of the participants residing in the area.
Looking into micro-level concerns, the survey highlights the difficulties households face in finding employment. A significant proportion of 14 percent identified this as their primary concern heading into the next quarter.
Notably, among the 18 to 24-year-old non-working and low-income individuals, this concern was particularly pronounced, with 19 percent and 20 percent of respondents, respectively, indicating its importance.
Financial constraints were also highlighted, with 12 percent of participants citing insufficient pay and the inability to afford basic necessities as pressing issues.
About 11 percent expressed concerns about job loss and the impact of rising prices on their ability to purchase essential commodities.
The PAHAYAG 2023 Second Quarter Survey is an independent and non- commissioned survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. from June 7 to 12, 2023.
It had 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from a market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos maintained by PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence with respondents, and distributed across five geographical areas.