Inflation Remains Top National Priority, Health Top Personal Concern for Filipinos: OCTA Survey

Inflation remains the top national priority for Filipinos, even as the proportion of respondents identifying it as the country's most urgent issue declined. According to the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) nationwide survey by OCTA Research conducted in July 2026, the percentage of Filipinos citing controlling the increase in the prices of basic goods and services fell by 8 percentage points from 45% in March 2026 to 37% in July 2026. Despite this decline, inflation continued to rank as the number one national concern, underscoring the continued importance of cost-of-living issues to Filipino households. Concern over improving or increasing the wages and salaries of workers remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 33% to 34%, making it the second most urgent national concern. Together, these findings suggest that economic and cost-of-living issues continue to dominate the public's policy priorities. Meanwhile, concern over fighting graft and corruption in government rose by 6 points, from 26% to 32%, moving it into third place nationally. This reflects renewed public attention to governance and accountability, highlighting heightened public attention to issues of transparency, accountability, and integrity in government. In contrast, concern over reducing poverty fell sharply, from 20% to 12%, marking the lowest level recorded in the survey series. On personal concerns, staying healthy and avoiding illness remains Filipinos' top priority, cited by 65%, though this is down slightly from 67% in March. Having enough food every day edged up from 46% to 47%, while concern over having a secure and well-paying job eased slightly from 42% to 41%. The proportion of Filipinos citing the ability to save money held steady at 41%, matching its highest level in the survey series. OCTA noted that the survey was conducted during a period marked by significant political, economic, and environmental developments. These included the formal opening of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on July 6, 2026, the arrest of Senator Rodante Marcoleta on plunder charges on the same day, intensified concerns over rising fuel prices following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, an increase in electricity rates, and the release of the June 2026 inflation report. While the survey does not establish causal relationships, OCTA stated it is important to situate the findings within their broader national and international context. The survey, conducted from July 4 to 11, 2026, involved face-to-face interviews with 1,200 probability respondents aged 18 and above. It has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following margins of error at a 95% confidence level: ±6% for NCR, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Source: GMA News Philippines