Lower food prices, higher wages top Filipinos’ concerns

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Lowering the cost of food and basic goods and raising workers’ wages are the top priorities Filipinos want the government to address, according to WR Numero’s August 2025 national survey.

The survey, conducted shortly after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address, asked respondents to select up to three key policy issues from a provided list.

A total of 42% of Filipinos cited lowering food prices as a top concern, followed by 39% who emphasized the need to increase wages.

Tackling illegal drugs and crime (29%) and addressing poverty (29%) tied as the third most urgent national concerns among respondents.

Job creation and livelihood opportunities were identified by 28% of Filipinos as a major government priority.

Other concerns included fighting government corruption (23%), improving the education system (16%), reducing taxes and fees (16%), and restoring PhilHealth subsidies.

Smaller shares of respondents emphasized strengthening the justice system (8%), asserting sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (7%), and expanding sex education (6%).

Six percent also mentioned the importance of ensuring a fair impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte.

Other priorities included boosting national defense through military reforms (5%), regulating political dynasties (3%), legalizing same-sex marriage (2%), and passing a divorce law (2%).

Despite deepening political divisions, the survey found broad consensus across partisan lines on food prices and wages as top concerns.

Among supporters of President Marcos and his allies, poverty reduction ranked third (32%), followed by job creation (26%) and illegal drugs and crime (23%).

Supporters of the Duterte family gave higher priority to fighting illegal drugs and crime (37%), followed by poverty reduction (27%) and job creation (24%).

Opposition partisans aligned with figures like Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo cited corruption (30%), poverty (29%), and job creation (27%) as their main concerns.

Filipinos who identified as politically independent prioritized job creation (33%), illegal drugs and crime (31%), and poverty (28%).

Ordinary Ilonggos echoed the survey’s results, saying the high cost of living continues to weigh heavily on daily life.

“Even when I budget carefully, food prices take up almost everything I earn in a day,” said Analyn, a 38-year-old vendor at Iloilo Central Market.

“We work long hours, but our wages are not enough to cover rent, food, and school supplies,” added Ramil, a 45-year-old jeepney driver from Jaro.

Marites, a 27-year-old call center agent from Mandurriao, said wage increases would give people more dignity.

“People just want to live decently without choosing between food and medicines,” she said.

WR Numero said the survey had a ±2% margin of error at the national level with 95% confidence.

At the subnational level, the margin of error was ±7% in the National Capital Region, ±3% in the rest of Luzon, ±6% in the Visayas, and ±5% in Mindanao.