ANN/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER – A majority of Filipinos believe that rice prices saw the highest increase among food items in the last quarter of 2024, and many feel that the government’s efforts to control inflation have been inadequate, according to a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group and conducted from January 17 to 20, found that 59 per cent of respondents identified rice as the food item that experienced the sharpest price hike between October and December 2024.
Apart from rice, 25 per cent of those surveyed pointed to rising prices of meat products such as chicken and beef, while 11 per cent cited vegetables. Another four per cent said seafood saw the highest increase.
The survey also revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of inflation, particularly in managing food costs. A significant 58 per cent of respondents stated that the government’s measures to curb inflation were insufficient, while only 16 per cent believed they were adequate. Meanwhile, 19 per cent were neutral, saying the response was neither sufficient nor insufficient.
Discontent was most pronounced in Mindanao, where 65 per cent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s inflation control efforts. Metro Manila followed closely behind with 60 per cent, reflecting concerns over rising living costs in urban areas.
