Economic pressures remain the most urgent concern that Filipinos want President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize and address, based of the PAHAYAG 2025 Third Quarter (PQ3-2025) survey.
The survey conducted from September 27 to 30, 2025, comprising 1,500 respondents who are registered Filipino voters, also showed that inflation emerges as the most pressing issue at 27 percent, as it continues to impact citizens’ purchasing power.
This is followed by rising government debt with 13 percent, labor market issues such as underemployment (10 percent), disasters and climate risks (10 percent), and higher food costs and supply disruptions (9 percent) caused by adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, 9 in ten registered voters express support for initiatives such as higher train fare discounts for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs); lifestyle checks for all government officials; the passage of the Konektadong Pinoy Act in Congress; full implementation of PhilHealth’s ‘No Balance Billing’ policy and an expanded Konsulta package; a total ban on online gambling; and a legislative investigation of both Chambers into alleged irregularities in government flood control projects.
Voters also express strong support for the public release on the list of 15 contractors cornering 20 percent of the P545.65 billion flood control budget.of the the Department of Public Works and Highways with 86 percent, creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (84 percent).
The launch of the ‘Sumbong ng Pangulo’ website got 82 percent support, the President’s State of the Nation Address statement ‘Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kababayan.’ (82 percent), the change of Senate leadership and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairmanship (79 percent).
Meanwhile, joint military drills with Australia and Canada in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea were backed by the Filipino voters with 75 percent , inauguration of the new Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Batanes (75 percent), and House investigation on the alleged insertion of P8 billion for firearms procurement in the 2026 PNP budget (75 percent).
Primewater Infrastructure
About seven in ten Filipinos support recent government and congressional actions such as the House of Representatives’ probe into Villar-owned Primewater Infrastructure Corp., the Energy Regulatory Commission’s revocation of the permit of Villar-owned SIPCOR, and the use of Dalian trains on MRT-3, nearly nine years after they were first procured.
Suspension of rice and sugar importation
Meanwhile, voters supports the Department of Agriculture’s (DA’s) two-month suspension of rice and sugar importation (63 percent), along with the proposal to lower the minimum age requirement for those seeking the positions of President and Vice President (58 percent).
U.S. tariff policy, BSKE Postponement
The least supported measures include the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to next year and the extension of term lengths to four years (44 percent) as well as the unilateral imposition of reciprocal tariffs on Philippine exports to the United States while certain U.S. goods remain tariff-free (31 percent).
Two high-profile issues
On the other hand, public opinion remains evenly divided on two high-profile issues: the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte-declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (51 percent) and later archived by the Senate (46 percent)-and the removal of PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, followed by the appointment of Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as Officer-in-Charge by President Marcos (49 percent).