MANILA, Philippines — Job creation, lower prices of goods, and plans to accelerate the country’s COVID-19 vaccination drive are among the top topics that Filipinos want to hear when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his final State of the Nation Address, results of a Pulse Asia survey showed.
Pulse Asia polled 2,400 adult Filipinos from June 7 to 16 and asked the question: “What would you like for President Duterte to discuss or mention in his coming State of the Nation Address or SONA?”
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Creation of more jobs or livelihood was the top pick at 38%, followed by measures to improve the economy at 35% and plans to control inflation at 33%.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the government to impose movement restrictions, battering the economy and plunging millions of workers into poverty.
Filipinos also want the chief executive to talk about expediting COVID-19 vaccinations (31%), increasing the pay of workers (26%), and improving the country’s educational system (26%).
Other concerns for the public include actions to halt Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea (25%), combat graft and corruption in the government (24%), achieve peace (20%), eradicate illegal drugs (17%), and restore people’s trust in the government and its officials (16%).
Charter change was the least mentioned issue among the respondents at 7%.
The survey also showed that residents of Metro Manila want Duterte to talk about inflation (48%) and jobs (40%) in his SONA this afternoon. In the rest of Luzon, the most preferred issues were the economy (39%) and jobs (37%), while jobs (41%) and COVID-19 vaccination (39%) were the most cited topics among those living in Visayas.
In Mindanao, Duterte’s bailiwick, residents also want to hear him discuss jobs (36%) and the economy (32%).
The Pulse Asia survey had ± 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level.
Duterte will deliver his sixth and final SONA at the Batasang Pambansa before a joint session of Congress at 4 p.m. — Gaea Katreena Cabico