Filipinos Urge Congress to Cut Prices, Raise Wages

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Lowering the cost of basic goods and increasing workers’ wages are the top concerns Filipinos want the new Congress to address, according to the April 2025 national survey by non-partisan research firm WR Numero.

The survey, part of the Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, found that 38% of respondents want Congress to prioritize reducing prices of food and essential goods, while 36% cited wage increases as an immediate priority.

Other top concerns include reducing poverty and providing assistance to the poor (29%) and fighting illegal drugs and crime (29%).

One in four Filipinos (25%) emphasized job creation, while 23% said the government should focus on curbing corruption.

Restoring PhilHealth subsidies (20%) and addressing the education crisis (18%) also registered as important, though less urgent, priorities.

Only a small fraction of respondents identified foreign policy and social reform as immediate concerns for lawmakers, with 8% citing resistance to China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea, and 7% each pointing to national defense, sex education, or efforts to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.

Fewer than 5% supported prioritizing divorce (4%), same-sex marriage (4%), or regulating political dynasties (5%).

Regional breakdown of concerns

In Metro Manila, wage hikes (36%) and lowering the cost of goods (33%) topped the list of concerns, followed by job creation and poverty alleviation (29% each), and drug and crime prevention (26%).

In Luzon outside Metro Manila, 44% said raising wages should be the primary legislative focus, followed closely by 42% who prioritized lowering prices. Around 30% called for poverty alleviation and job creation, and 26% pointed to crime and drugs.

In the Visayas, over 40% of respondents said reducing prices was the most urgent concern. One-third (33%) emphasized fighting drugs and crime, followed by poverty reduction (29%) and wage increases (27%). Corruption was also a key issue for 25%.

Mindanao respondents gave the highest priority to crime and drug prevention (31%), followed by inflation (29%), poverty (28%), and wage hikes (28%). Corruption was flagged by 20% of those surveyed.

Voter partisanship, policy expectations

Among supporters of the Duterte camp and its allies, 35% cited price reduction as a top concern, followed by crime and drugs (34%), poverty (31%), and wage increases (31%).

Supporters of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his allies showed a stronger preference for wage hikes (42%) and inflation control (39%), with other concerns including poverty reduction (31%), corruption (25%), and job creation (23%).

Among voters aligned with the opposition, including backers of former Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Risa Hontiveros, wage hikes (38%) and inflation (36%) ranked highest, alongside restoring PhilHealth subsidies (26%) and addressing poverty (25%).

Independent voters echoed these trends, with 42% calling for food price reductions, 39% for higher wages, and nearly 30% each for poverty alleviation, job creation, and crime prevention.