Food affordability tops Filipinos’ call for gov’t action

The cost of food emerged as the leading issue Filipinos want the national government to address, particularly among the country’s poorest households, according to a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by the Stratbase Group.

The Sept. 17–23 survey found that 35 percent of respondents identified making food more affordable, particularly rice, meat and fish, as the primary action national government leaders should undertake to address concerns in their local communities.

The finding does not necessarily mean food prices are the only or even the overriding concern of Filipinos, but it does show that food affordability ranked ahead of jobs, corruption, education and health care when respondents were asked to choose just one priority.

The 35-percent result was five percentage points higher than the 30 percent recorded in July, although it remained below the 41 percent registered in March.

Creating more jobs and livelihood opportunities ranked second at 26 percent, followed by reducing or eliminating corruption to provide better public services at 24 percent. Providing accessible education and health-care services was cited by 15 percent.

The survey also found that 71 percent of respondents wanted the Marcos administration to control inflation. The finding comes amid a reported acceleration in inflation to 7.2 percent in September, driven by higher food and transport prices.

Food affordability weighs heaviest on poorest households

The demand for more affordable food was strongest among the poorest respondents.

Fifty-five percent of Class E respondents identified food affordability as their top government priority, an 11-percentage-point increase from July. The figure was 34 percent among Class D respondents and 26 percent among Class ABC.

By geographic area, food affordability was cited by 43 percent of respondents in the National Capital Region, 36 percent in Luzon, 34 percent in Mindanao and 31 percent in the Visayas.

Stratbase Group CEO and Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said the findings should prompt government to focus on the cost of basic goods as it seeks to rebuild public trust.

“The public has been consistently telling government what matters most to them: the rising cost of basic goods and the ability to make ends meet. If the administration wants to rebuild public trust, it has to address these everyday concerns and deliver results that Filipinos can actually feel in their homes and communities,” Manhit said.

“The fact that food affordability is the top concern, particularly among the poorest Filipinos, should be a strong signal for government. Economic policies must translate into real relief for families who are struggling with the cost of basic necessities,” he added.

Jobs and corruption

The survey showed a slight decline in the share of respondents prioritizing jobs and corruption.

Those calling for more jobs and livelihood opportunities fell to 26 percent from 28 percent in July, while those wanting government to lessen or eliminate corruption declined to 24 percent from 28 percent in July and 31 percent in December 2025.

Despite the decline, corruption remained the third most cited priority nationwide. It registered higher in the Visayas at 30 percent and in the NCR at 27 percent.

Manhit said the findings showed that governance and economic policies ultimately have to produce tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.

“The message from the public is clear: governance must deliver tangible results. Fighting corruption, creating jobs and improving services matter, but these efforts ultimately have to translate into lower costs, better incomes and more secure livelihoods for ordinary families,” he said.

Only 15 percent of respondents identified accessible education and health-care services as the primary action government leaders should take, although this was one percentage point higher than in July.

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted nationwide from Sept. 17 to 23, 2026, among 2,400 respondents, with a margin of error of ±2 percentage points. Respondents were asked to choose only one action they believed national government leaders should primarily undertake to address concerns in their local communities.