01 Oct Corruption tops Filipinos’ concerns
MORE Filipinos now see corruption as the top pressing issue the government should urgently act on, overtaking economic concerns such as inflation and poverty, according to a September survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia, Inc..
In a statement, the pollster said 18% of Filipinos view corruption as an issue requiring immediate action from President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. It overtook inflation, economic, and poverty concerns, with 15%, 12%, and 11% of Filipinos seeing the issue as a leading problem, respectively.
“While the public’s concerns remain largely consistent, there is a notable shift in the ranking of these issues,” PUBLiCUS Asia, Inc.said. “Corruption now tops the list, reflecting a growing frustration with governance and accountability across different sectors of society.”
The pollster noted that economic issues remain to be a “persistent issue” for Filipinos despite ranking lower than corruption. “Rising costs of essential goods continue to strain household budgets… underscoring the public’s desire for policies that directly address their day-to-day challenges.”
Inflation slowed to a seven-month low in August due to a moderate rise in food and a decline in transport costs. Consumer prices rose by 3.3% from 4.4% in July and 5.3% a year earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority said in early September.
PUBLiCUS interviewed 1,500 Filipinos on Sept. 15 to 19, with an error margin of 3%. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio