Improving or increasing the pay of workers (47%) and controlling inflation (46%) are the two top national concerns deemed most urgent by Filipinos, a Pulse Asia survey revealed Monday.
The survey, conducted last September 8-14, also cited “fighting graft and corruption in government” as the third most urgent national concern, with 39%.
Creating more jobs (37%) and reducing poverty of many Filipinos (32) ranked fourth and fifth in the survey. Fighting criminality was ranked sixth with 25 percent.
The survey asked 2,400 respondents to cite three national concerns deemed “most urgent” and should be given immediate attention by government.
“Essentially, the same percentages of Filipinos mention the same set of issues – workers’ pay, inflation, graft and corruption, jobs, and poverty – first (11% to 18%), second (10% to 17%), or third (11% to 13%),” Pulse Asia said.
The survey also showed that increasing workers’ pay and controlling inflation were the top two most urgent concerns for Filipinos among all geographical areas except Mindanao where controlling inflation (50%) was deemed more urgent than increasing pay (42%).
Among socioeconomic classes, Class ABC respondents deemed fighting graft and corruption as the most urgent national concern with 44%, followed by increasing workers’ pay (39%) and controlling inflation (39%).
Class D and E respondents deemed increasing workers’ pay as the most urgent national concern (48%).
Among the least mentioned urgent national concern across geographical areas and socioeconomic classes are territorial integrity, Charter change and terrorism.
“In addition, less than one in 10 of those in Class E (8%) considers rapid population growth as an urgent national concern,” the survey said.
On the other hand, the survey showed more Filipinos expressed disapproval for the administration’s performance in controlling inflation. Forty-six percent of respondents expressed disapproval in the government’s efforts to fight inflation, compared to 30% undecided and 24% approval.
Thirty-seven percent of respondents also expressed disapproval of the government’s efforts to increase the pay of workers compared to 29% undecided and 33% approval.
Disapproval also marked the performance ratings of the administration in reducing poverty, with 41% expressing disapproval, 32% undecided and 28% approval.
The survey showed a “bare majority” of Filipinos (51%) have expressed appreciation for the Aquino administration’s efforts to protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.
The nationwide survey has a ± 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a ± 4% error margin, also at 95% confidence level.
