Improving wages, not fighting crime, is a national concern most needing the immediate attention of the Duterte administration, according to a new Pulse Asia survey.
The level of public concern for fighting criminality, in fact, saw a significant fall, according to results of the nationwide survey conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.
Public concern for fighting criminality fell 21 percentage points from 52 percent in July to 31 percent in September, according to Pulse Asia.
It found nearly half or 46 percent of respondents citing as the most urgent concern increasing workers’ pay, an issue for which the Duterte administration got a 64-percent approval rating.
The Duterte administration gained majority approval ratings—from 51 percent in controlling inflation to 89 percent in fighting criminality on the 12 national issues it was rated.
Creating more jobs, controlling inflation, fighting graft and corruption in government, reducing poverty of many Filipinos and fighting criminality were cited by at least a third of the respondents as a national concern.
Improving peace in the country, enforcing the law on all (whether influential or ordinary people), reducing the amount of taxes paid and stopping the destruction and abuse of environment were deemed urgent by at least one in 10 Filipinos.
Other concerns (cited by just 2 percent to 9 percent) included controlling a fast population growth, protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, preparing to successfully face any kind of terrorism, defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners and changing the Constitution.
Public concern for these issues remained constant between July and September.
When it came to local issues, addressing peace and order was the top concern with about a quarter or 27.4 percent of Filipinos deeming it urgent.
Other top local issues included public infrastructure improvements (13.2 percent), employment (11.9 percent) and waste management and cleanliness (11.2 percent). —ANA ROA, INQUIRER RESEARCH