Pulse Asia: Inflation, personal health top urgent concerns for Pinoys

The rising cost of basic goods and commodities remains the country’s top urgent national concern, while staying healthy is the leading personal concern for most Filipinos, results from the latest Pulse Asia survey showed.

According to the Pulse Asia’s June 2025 Ulat ng Bayan survey, 62% of Filipinos are concerned about inflation—more than seeking higher wages and alleviating poverty, among other concerns.

The survey finding aligns with the polling firm’s earlier report showing that inflation ranks first in the list of national concerns that Filipinos want President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to include in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28. 

At least 1,200 adult Filipinos participated in the face-to-face surveys conducted from June 26 to June 30. It has 95% confidence level and ±2.8% margin of error. Respondents were asked to rank their top concerns: first, second, and third.

Overall, increasing workers’ pay ranked second across the country, with 51% of Filipino adults saying that it as an urgent national concern.

This indicated a 17% increase from the last quarter, while concern for inflation eased by 8%.

 

Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices of goods and services increases. Its computation is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

“Across geographic and socio-economic subgroupings, the only urgent national concern cited by most adults is the need to control the rising prices of basic commodities,” the Pulse Asia survey said. 

“Of the remaining issues in the list, only workers pay is identified as urgent by majorities in any of these subgroupings,” it added. 

Other urgent national issues for Filipino adults are poverty reduction (26%); job creation (25%); and fighting graft and corruption in the government (24%). The least of their concerns are national territorial integrity (5%); welfare of OFWs (4%); and terrorism (1%). 

Health over house

Meanwhile, staying healthy remains the leading urgent personal concern for most adults in the Philippines, with 64% of the respondents citing this as a top issue. The figure, however, is still lower than the 71% reported in 2024. 

More than half or 53% of respondents also said they were concerned about having a secure and well-paying job, while 45% expressed concern to have some savings.

The least concern for Filipinos is having their own house and lot, with only 23% of respondents citing it as their most urgent personal concern.

 

“Small to big majorities in every geographic area and most socio-economic classes are concerned about staying healthy. Class E is the exception,” the survey said.

“Having a good job or source of income is a majority urgent personal concern in nearly all areas and classes, except in Metro Manila and Class ABC. Most of those belonging to either Class ABC or Class E would like to have some savings of their own. Personal food security is mentioned as an urgent personal concern by bare to small majorities in the Visayas and Class E,” it added.

Satisfaction rating

Meanwhile, the majority or 66% of Filipinos said they were dissatisfied with the Marcos administration’s initiatives to address rising inflation.

The survey showed 48% of the respondents also disapproved of the administration’s actions to increase workers’ pay; 54% in reducing poverty; 50% in fighting corruption; and 40% in addressing the problem of involuntary hunger. 

“A different pattern may be observed when it comes to year-on-year movements,” the survey noted.

“Levels of disapproval go up for the administration’s efforts to address 12 issues while disapproval eases on the issue of inflation. The change posted on the issue of poverty reduction is marginal in nature. As for indecision figures, these decline in relation to 13 issues, with inflation being the exception,” it added.

Meanwhile, the government scored majority approval ratings in responding to the needs of calamity-hit areas (63%), protecting the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (62%), and helping farmers (53%). 
— VDV/RF, GMA Integrated News