Use of Renewable Energy, Affordable Food Prices, Living Wage, most favored by Filipinos – Pahayag Survey
Manila, July 17, 2023 – In the most recent PAHAYAG 2023-Q2 survey results released last June 2023, it has been revealed that the use of renewable energy is the topmost approved national issue, with an overwhelming 87% approval rating. The survey, which aimed to gauge public sentiment on various topics, found several key findings that reflect the priorities of the Filipino population.
Following closely behind the use of renewable energy, the establishment of Kadiwa Stores, the implementation of a living wage, and the imposition of more severe penalties on agricultural smugglers were all highly approved, each receiving an 81% approval rating. These issues demonstrate the public’s concern for sustainable practices and the need to support local industries.
Further findings from the survey include a 79% approval rating for the imposition of suggested retail prices on basic commodities, reflecting the public’s desire for fair pricing and affordability. Furthermore, 76% of respondents expressed support for a tax on the wealthy, indicating a growing concern for wealth inequality in the country.
The survey also highlighted the importance of digital solutions in addressing societal challenges. A digital food stamp program received a 72% approval rating, emphasizing the need for accessible and efficient social welfare programs. Additionally, 71% of respondents expressed interest in internet or electronic voting for overseas Filipino workers, showcasing a desire for more inclusive democratic processes.
In terms of healthcare, the PAHAYAG-Q2 results revealed strong support (62%) for managing the shortage of healthcare professionals through mandatory service, while 57% of respondents favored expediting nursing students to become work-ready. However, calls to cancel the oil excise tax (59%) and instead impose a tax on foreign digital services (57%) were relatively high, indicating concerns about the rising cost of living.
Other key findings from the survey include a 59% approval rating for modernizing naval assets, 58% approval for updating constitutional economic provisions, and addressing the shortage of driver’s license cards. Additionally, building nuclear power plants (56%), adjusting the school curriculum for K-12 (56%), reinstating mandatory ROTC in college (55%), passing the SOGIE Equality Bill (55%), and granting additional EDCA sites for USAF’s use in relation to potential Taiwan Strait conflict (51%) received approval from more than half of Filipino voters.
Regional variations were observed, with SL and VISMIN showing varying degrees of approval on issues such as nuclear power plants, ROTC, and EDCA sites. Moreover, the survey revealed that 61% of Catholic voters approved the passage of the SOGIE Bill, while the 60+ age group, non-Catholic, and non-working demographics had the least approval ratings on the same bill.
The PAHAYAG 2023 Second Quarter Survey (PQ2) is an independent and non- commissioned survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. between 7-12 June 2023. It is a nationwide purposive survey with 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from a market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos maintained by PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence with respondents, and distributed across five geographical areas: National Capital Region (NCR), North Central Luzon (NCL), South Luzon (SL), Visayas (Vis), and Mindanao (Min). Only registered Filipino voters were included in the sample, ensuring that the results accurately represent the sentiments of the voting population.
For more information on the survey methodology and detailed results, please visit www.publicusasia.com.