MANILA, Philippines -- Soaring fuel costs driven by global conflicts have sharpened Filipinos’ call for the government to bring down food prices, create more jobs, and curb corruption, according to a Pulse Asia survey released on Thursday. Results of the Feb. 27 to March 2, 2026 poll commissioned by Stratbase Institute showed that 41 percent of respondents identified making food more affordable—particularly staples such as rice, meat, and fish—as the most urgent action government leaders should take. The figure rose by three percentage points from 38 percent in December 2025. Support for this priority increased notably in Balance Luzon and Mindanao, where respondents, citing food affordability, climbed to 46 percent from 41 percent and 40 percent, respectively. The sentiment also grew strongest among Class E households, rising seven points to 40 percent. Addressing corruption ranked second, with 26 percent of respondents calling for efforts to lessen or eliminate it in order to improve public services. This marked a five-point drop from 31 percent in the previous survey. Meanwhile, demand for job creation continued to grow, with 24 percent of respondents urging the government to expand livelihood opportunities, up from 21 percent in December. The increase was most pronounced in the Visayas, where the figure surged from 27 percent to 43 percent. Providing accessible education and healthcare services remained a less-cited concern at 10 percent, unchanged from the previous round. Victor Andres Manhit, president of Stratbase, said the findings reflected mounting public anxiety over food security and inflation, driven in part by rising global oil prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. “What we are seeing is how geopolitical tensions are directly affecting Filipino households,” he said. “While corruption remains an important issue, ordinary citizens are now more focused on immediate economic pressures including food prices and income stability.” He said the results aligned with earlier Pulse Asia findings identifying inflation and corruption among the country’s most pressing national concerns. “Our commissioned survey’s findings reinforce concerns that Filipinos are overwhelmingly worried by the rising costs of goods,” Manhit said. “That there remains a high demand to eliminate corruption also shows that the public has stronger expectations for government accountability whenever food prices rise.” He urged authorities to respond decisively by stabilizing food and fuel prices, cracking down on profiteering, and expanding subsidies for vulnerable sectors. “Addressing rising food prices must go hand in hand with creating more jobs and ensuring that economic gains are felt at the local community level,” he added. The survey was conducted among 1,200 respondents using face-to-face interviews and had a margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points. The poll coincided with the escalating conflict involving Iran, which disrupted global oil supply routes and drove crude prices above $100 per barrel, triggering fresh increases in domestic fuel prices and raising concerns over their impact on inflation and basic commodities.