A recent Social Weather Stations survey, conducted in partnership with the Stratbase Group, reveals that a majority of Filipinos believe rice saw the most significant price increase among food items in the past three months. The nationwide survey, conducted from January 17 to 20, included 1,800 respondents with a ±2 margin of error.
Results indicate that 59 percent of Filipinos identified rice as the most expensive food item between October and December 2024, followed by meat products (29 percent), vegetables (11 percent), and fish and seafood (4 percent).
The survey also highlights concerns regarding the Marcos administration’s inflation-control efforts. Fifty-eight percent of Filipinos believe the government’s solutions are insufficient, with significant dissatisfaction reported in Mindanao (65 percent) and the National Capital Region (60 percent). Meanwhile, 16 percent of respondents felt the measures were adequate, and 19 percent remained neutral.
Despite a steady inflation rate of 2.9 percent in January, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Stratbase Institute president and professor Dindo Manhit emphasized that rising food prices continue to affect families, noting that nearly 26 percent of Filipino households experienced involuntary hunger as of December 2024. Manhit advocates for broader socio-economic reforms, urging the government to address not just inflation, but also job opportunities, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
The survey findings reflect widespread dissatisfaction with current measures and underscore the significant challenges the Marcos administration faces in addressing inflation, with Filipinos citing the need for more comprehensive solutions.
