A recent Pulse Asia survey highlights inflation as the top urgent national issue for Filipinos, followed by government corruption and workers' pay.
A recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia reveals that controlling inflation continues to be the most pressing national concern among Filipinos, with 59% of respondents citing it as urgent. The survey, carried out between February 27 and March 2, 2026, through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults across the Philippines, indicates that the public’s sense of urgency on inflation has remained steady since December 2025. Inflation was the top first- and second-mentioned concern in the March 2026 survey, at 26% and 23%, respectively.
Following inflation, graft and corruption in government was identified as a pressing issue by 47% of respondents, while concerns about workers’ pay were cited by 36%. Corruption also ranked as the leading third-mentioned concern, highlighted by 19% of participants.
Other significant concerns included poverty reduction, job creation, combating illegal drug use and sale, and crime fighting, each mentioned by around 17% to 21% of respondents. Regional and social class analyses showed inflation and government corruption as predominant issues across various demographics.
The Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) recently warned that inflation could accelerate beyond 7% if the Middle East conflict escalates and persists. The survey’s margin of error is ±2.8% at a 95% confidence level.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/980168/filipinos-still-most-worried-about-inflation-pulse-asia/story/
