January 2, 2026 - Filipinos continue to view inflation and corruption as their most pressing national concerns, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from December 12 to 15, 2025. The results, released on December 30, showed that 59 percent of respondents identified controlling the rise in prices of goods and services as among their three most urgent concerns, while 48 percent cited fighting graft and corruption in government.

Pulse Asia explained: “For most adults in the country, one of the issues the incumbent national administration must address immediately is inflation (59%). This is the leading first- and second-ranked urgent national concern (22% and 23%, respectively).” The survey covered 1,200 respondents nationwide and has a ±2.8 percent margin of error.

The findings highlight the continued burden of rising costs on Filipino households. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently faced criticism after Secretary Cris Roque suggested that “P500 is enough for a Noche Buena or Christmas Eve dinner,” a remark that drew backlash amid persistent complaints about high food prices.

Corruption also emerged as a major issue, with Pulse Asia noting a sharp increase in public concern compared to previous years. Between 2022 and 2024, only 15 to 26 percent of Filipinos cited corruption as a top national issue. The figure has now nearly doubled, reflecting frustration over controversies such as the flood control project scandal and the alleged misuse of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Philippine Star reported that corruption was the second most urgent concern across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, cutting across socio-economic classes D and E. Rappler likewise emphasized that the surge in concern over corruption was “evident throughout the year,” with protests and public discourse amplifying calls for accountability.

Other issues ranked lower in the survey, including poverty reduction (33 percent), job creation (29 percent), and improving the educational system (24 percent). However, inflation and corruption clearly dominated the national agenda as 2025 came to a close.

The survey underscores the challenges facing the Marcos administration as it enters 2026. Analysts note that addressing inflation will require sustained efforts to stabilize food and fuel prices, while tackling corruption demands stronger transparency and accountability measures.

Prices Hurt Daily, Corruption Hurts Hope

That inflation tops the list of Filipinos’ concerns is no surprise. People feel it every day. At the market. At the gas pump. In the quiet math done before paying bills. Rising prices are not abstract. They are immediate, physical, and exhausting.

But corruption ranking almost as high tells a deeper story.

Inflation hurts the wallet. Corruption hurts hope.

When Filipinos say corruption is one of the country’s most urgent problems, they are not reacting to one headline or one personality. They are responding to a pattern. Scandals exposed but unresolved. Names mentioned but consequences delayed. Hearings held while daily life grows harder.

The backlash over the “₱500 Noche Buena” comment captured this disconnect perfectly. It was not just about food prices. It was about leaders sounding detached from reality while asking people to endure more. Inflation becomes unbearable when paired with the belief that public money is being wasted or stolen.

What makes this dangerous is the combination. High prices strain survival. Corruption drains trust. Together, they create cynicism. People stop believing that sacrifice leads anywhere.

Filipinos are not asking for miracles. They want relief that reaches the kitchen table and accountability that reaches the powerful. Until both happen, surveys will keep telling the same story.

You cannot fight inflation with numbers alone. And you cannot fight corruption with words. The public mood is clear. People are tired of explanations. They are waiting for action that finally matches their reality.