Filipinos want President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prioritize inflation, jobs and wages in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), with bread-and-butter issues dominating the public agenda ahead of the annual policy speech, according to a nationwide survey conducted by EON The Stakeholder Relations Group and Tangere.

Conducted from 7 to 10 July, the survey found that 67.1 percent of respondents want the President to address the economy and inflation, making it the top issue for this year's SONA. This was followed by jobs and wages (56.2 percent), education (53.2 percent), agriculture and food security (47.3 percent), health (44.7 percent), cost of living (43.3 percent), crime and public safety (42.4 percent), and corruption (42.2 percent).

More than 92 percent of respondents identified at least one economic concern among their priorities.

Similar findings were observed in recent separate surveys from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia, where respondents likewise cited rising prices and the broader economic downturn as their most pressing concerns.

Beyond policy priorities, EON and Tangere’s respondents said they want the President to focus on solutions rather than accomplishments. Solutions to current national problems topped expectations at 48.3 percent, followed by anti-corruption measures and government reform (35.6 percent), updates on previous promises (34.7 percent), and plans to lower prices (32.8 percent). Only 22 percent said they wanted to hear about the administration's accomplishments.

The findings also underscore a broader credibility challenge for the administration. Nearly 49.4 percent of respondents said they distrust the government's ability to solve the country's problems, while 55 percent believe it does not listen to ordinary Filipinos and 53.8 percent said it does not understand the issues they face. Meanwhile, 40.8 percent said they do not believe the government can implement the commitments expected to be announced in this year's SONA.

Public confidence is also weighed down by perceptions of past performance. The survey found that 46 percent believe promises made in previous SONAs have not been fulfilled, while only 30.8 percent expressed confidence that the government can deliver on the commitments expected to be announced this year.