Controlling inflation remains the topmost concern of 63 percent of Filipinos, according to the second quarter Pulse Asia survey.
Taken from June 19 to 23, 2023, the survey showed that the top concern remained unchanged from the first quarter of the year.
Controlling inflation–the rate of increase in the prices of consumer goods and services–is the top concern across all income classes, registering 67 percent among the more affluent (class ABC) and 63 percent and 62 percent in Class E and Class D, respectively.
Filipinos also said the government should work on “increasing the pay of workers” (44 percent) and “creating more jobs” (31 percent).
In the same survey, 76 percent or three in four Filipinos agreed that the government is protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. Survey participants also approved of the government’s response to calamities (73 percent) and promotion of peace in the country (67 percent).
The survey said respondents said the government needs to fight graft and corruption (25 percent), enforce the law on all, influential or ordinary people (16 percent) and addressing the problem of involuntary hunger (16 percent).
Providing assistance to farmers, including selling their products, got 15 percent.
Other issues that Filipinos want to be addressed include fighting criminality (13 percent), promoting peace in the country (11 percent), government helping small businesses and entrepreneurs (10 percent), reducing the amount of taxes paid by citizens (7 percent), stopping environmental degradation (7 percent), defending national territorial integrity (6 percent), and dealing with terroristic threats and protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (both at 4 percent).
There was a 7 percentage-point increase in the number of Filipinos who are concerned about enforcing the rule of law to all, at 16 percent in June, up from only 9 percent in the previous quarter.
The non-sponsored survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above and has a ± 2.8% error margin at a 95 percent confidence level.
Also on Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the P40 increase in the daily minimum wage will take effect Sunday.
The department’s National Wages Productivity Commission (NWPC) said employers in National Capital Region (NCR) are expected to implement the new daily minimum wage on July 16 despite an appeal filed by a coalition of labor organizations.
This P40 increase brings the daily minimum wage in NCR from P570 to P610 for the non-agriculture sector, and from P533 to P573 for the agricultural sector and retail establishments employing 15 or fewer workers, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing fewer than 10 workers.
On July 3, the wage appeal was filed by the Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine Labor Organization, Labor Alliance for National Development, Gabay ng Unyon sa Telekomunikasyon at Serbisyo, Pinagkaisang Lakas ng Manggagawa ng Manila Bay and their allied labor organizations.
Citing inflation and the “soaring prices of basic services and commodities,” the petitioners argued that the basis of minimum wage determination should be the family living wage, which should amount to P1,161 and not the poverty threshold.
The NWPC said that the appeal is part of the minimum wage determination process and will be acted upon promptly.
Based on existing rules, the NWPC will resolve the appeal within 60 calendar days from the filing date.
Petitions for minimum wage increases have also been filed in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, wage boards in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas are currently discussing the merits of the petitions.
The wage board in Central Visayas is set to conduct public hearings this month and in August.
The President vowed last month to protect the purchasing power of Filipinos as the country reported its lowest inflation rate in 13 months.
In a tweet, the President said that the government’s actions have been effective in strengthening the country’s economy.