Alfredo Tolentino

Controlling inflation remains the top issue Filipinos want President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to tackle as he prepares to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, according to a nationwide Pulse Asia survey released on July 11.

Photo Courtesy of ABS-CBN News.

The survey, conducted from June 26-30 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents, found that nearly one-third of respondents, or 32.9 percent of Filipino adults, want President Marcos to prioritize measures addressing rising prices of goods and services in his upcoming SONA.

This sentiment was especially pronounced in Visayas, where 44.7 percent of respondents cited inflation as their top concern, followed by Metro Manila at 37.8 percent, and socioeconomic Class D at 34.2 percent. 

Inflation also emerged as a primary concern in the rest of Luzon at 28.8 percent, and among Classes ABC and E at 31.4 percent and 25.3 percent, respectively.

Headline inflation slightly rose to 1.4 percent in June from 1.3 percent in May, driven by higher utility and education costs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in its July 4 report. 

The uptick was tempered by a continued slowdown in food prices, particularly rice, which helped keep overall inflation below the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) two to four percent target band. 

With inflation averaging 1.8 percent in the first half of 2025, the BSP said there is room for further interest rate cuts. 

However, authorities noted that recent wage hikes and global oil price volatility may pose risks to price stability in the coming months.

After inflation, key issues that Filipinos also hope to hear in the SONA include increasing wages and peace and order, at 13.6 percent and 13.2 percent of the respondents, respectively.

Other concerns raised by respondents include expanding employment and livelihood opportunities (9.8 percent), reducing poverty and hunger (7.4 percent), and extending assistance to the agricultural sector (4.1 percent). 

A smaller number of 2.8 percent mentioned continuing financial aid programs, while 2.4 percent cited eliminating corruption, and 2.3 percent expressed a desire for the return of former President Rodrigo Duterte as their priority. 

Other issues include protection of maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea at 1.6 percent, addressing education concerns at 1.3 percent, and ensuring justice in the country at 1.1 percent.

Regional and socioeconomic breakdowns revealed nuanced priorities. 

In Mindanao, peace and order topped the list of concerns at 31.3 percent, followed by inflation at 28.8 percent. 

In the rest of Luzon, inflation and wage increases were the most frequently cited issues, with 28.8 percent and 19.0 percent, respectively. 

Among Class E respondents, financial assistance ranked second at 14.7 percent, followed by wages at 12.4  percent.

The same survey also showed a rise in public awareness of Marcos' past SONAs, with 78 percent of adult Filipinos saying they are knowledgeable of the SONA, marking an increase from 69  percent in June 2024.

Awareness was highest in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, ranging from 83 to 85  percent, and lowest in the Visayas and Mindanao, at 70 to 73 percent. By socioeconomic class, awareness ranged from 74 percent among Class E to 90 percent among Classes ABC.

Pulse Asia conducts the "Ulat ng Bayan" independently and was not commissioned by any political group. 

The survey has a ±2.8 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level. 

Subnational estimates for Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao have a ±5.7 percent margin of error.

President Marcos is expected to deliver his fourth SONA on July 28 at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, where he will outline his administration’s priorities amid continuing economic and social challenges.