MANILA: More Filipinos believe that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr should focus on inflation rather than corruption issues, according to a survey from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released on Wednesday (Oct 22).
Commissioned by think tank Stratbase Group, the SWS survey held last month said the majority, or 56 per cent, of Filipinos interviewed by the pollster believe that Marcos should handle the prices of rice and other food products, while only 31 per cent of them urged the government to tackle corruption.
The nationwide survey was conducted from Sept 24-30, 2025, among 1,500 respondents, with a ±3 per cent margin of error.
“This survey highlights the urgent reality that Filipinos are still struggling to afford basic food,” Stratbase President Dindo Manhit said in a statement.
“Filipinos are sending a strong message: Do not forget to address inflation and ensure food security while strengthening transparency and accountability in government spending,” Manhit added.
He also said this survey shows the need for the Marcos administration to recalibrate its priorities “to focus on policies that directly ease the burden of high living costs while pursuing reforms that eliminate corruption.”
The country’s inflation rate in September stands at 1.7 per cent — a six-month high — but better than the two-per cent median estimate of 14 economists polled by the Inquirer.
The current inflation rate was driven by surging food costs after a series of storms that flooded farms and destroyed crops.
The series of storms, which caused widespread flooding, also led the public to cast doubt on Marcos’ remarks in his State of the Nation Address that 5,500 flood-control projects have already been completed under his administration.
After this, Marcos ordered the investigation of all of the almost 10,000 flood control projects finished in the past three years.
The president further revealed that P100 billion, or about 20 per cent of the entire P545-billion budget for flood mitigation projects undertaken by his administration from July 2022 to May 2025, was awarded to only 15 contractors.
A congressional probe was made after this, unveiling alleged collusion of lawmakers, private contractors, and Department of Public Works and Highways officials to embezzle billions of pesos in the guise of flood control projects, some of which were found to be non-existent.
An independent commission was also made to conduct a closed-door probe of this major corruption scandal, raising concerns about transparency, which critics say could tarnish the credibility of its findings.
The public outrage also led to widespread Sept 21 protests — with a violent Mendiola riot stealing the show—as well as rumors of a coup, which has since been denied by the military.
Meanwhile, the SWS said other issues that Filipinos believe deserve government attention include providing adequate education (7 per cent) and improving healthcare facilities (4 per cent), while 3 per cent of respondents said they did not know enough to give an opinion. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
