Higher wages, lower food costs top Filipinos’ priorities

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Raising workers’ wages, lowering food prices, and fighting government corruption are the top priorities Filipinos want the national government to address, according to a new survey by independent pollster WR Numero.

The results come from the November 2025 edition of the Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, conducted from Nov. 21–28 through face-to-face interviews with 1,412 Filipinos across the country. The survey allowed respondents to select up to three policy issues from a predetermined list.

The most cited concerns were raising workers’ wages (34%) and lowering the cost of food and other essentials (34%). Combating government corruption followed closely at 28%.

Three other issues tied at 22%: fighting illegal drugs and crime, combating poverty and assisting the poor, and creating more jobs and livelihood opportunities. Twenty percent of respondents said they want those responsible for anomalous flood control projects held accountable.

Strengthening disaster preparedness and response ranked next at 18%, followed by reducing taxes and government fees (17%) and ensuring the fair enforcement of laws for both powerful and ordinary citizens (16%).

Other policy preferences included protecting overseas Filipino workers (7%), defending against China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea (6%), and boosting national defense through stronger coast guard and armed forces (6%).

Only a small portion of respondents backed regulating political dynasties (5%), legalizing same-sex marriage (3%), and passing a divorce law (2%).

Policy concerns differ across political camps

WR Numero’s findings also highlighted how Filipinos’ policy priorities shift according to their political leanings — though food affordability remained a shared concern across partisan divides.

Among supporters of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his allies, the top issue was lowering food prices (33%), followed by fighting poverty (27%), raising wages (26%), combating government corruption (24%), and job creation (24%).

Supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte prioritized raising wages (38%) over lowering food costs (32%). Other key concerns included corruption (31%), poverty reduction (28%), and fighting illegal drugs and crime (26%).

Those aligned with the political opposition — including figures such as Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo — emphasized holding flood control officials accountable (34%), lowering food prices (31%), raising wages (30%), fighting corruption (24%), and cracking down on drugs and crime (24%).

Independent voters similarly chose food affordability (35%) as their top issue, followed by wage increases (33%), corruption (27%), job creation (23%), and disaster preparedness (21%).

The WR Numero nationwide survey maintains a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. At the regional level, the margin of error varies: ±7% for the National Capital Region, ±4% for the rest of Luzon, ±6% for the Visayas, and ±5% for Mindanao.

These findings are part of WR Numero’s Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, Volume 2025, Issue 5. The broader report also explores Filipinos’ perceptions of the flood corruption scandal, assessments of top government officials, and opinions on international legal proceedings involving the Philippines.

The full survey report is publicly accessible at tinyurl.com/wrn-ppom.