Ninety percent (90%) of Filipinos said they will vote for a candidate who will advocate for agriculture development and food security in the May 2025 elections, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group.
The survey was conducted on February 15 to 19, several days after the official start of the national campaign period. It asked 1,800 respondents nationwide and has a 2% margin of error.
The February 2025 results are consistent with the previous survey conducted in January 2025, which showed that 94% of Filipinos would also support candidates with the same advocacy.
Furthermore, 81% of Filipinos said that they will support candidates who will advocate for controlling the prices of basic services and goods.
Stratbase President Dindo Manhit said these results highlight the current top priority of the Filipino people.
“These findings suggest that affordability and accessibility of essential goods, particularly food, remain major concerns for many Filipinos. We need candidates who will prioritize food security and take decisive action to address the rising prices of essential goods that Filipinos rely on,” Manhit explained.
“Strengthening the agriculture sector and ensuring a stable food supply can ultimately help control the cost of basic goods and services while also reducing poverty and hunger across the country,” he added.
The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier reported that the country’s over-all inflation rate in January 2025 remained at 2.9%,, the same annual growth rate decorded in December 2024. However, food inflation at the national level rose to 4.0% in January 2025, up from 3.5% in the previous month.
However, Manhit emphasized that that despite these relatively small increases, the prices of essential goods continue to rise, putting additional strain on households, especially those in lower-income brackets.
He pointed out another survey conducted by the SWS in January 2025, which found that 59% of Filipinos identified rice as the commodity with the most significant price increase over the past three months, followed by meat (including chicken, pork, and beef) at 25%.
“These staples are essential in every household and play a crucial role in daily nutrition and survival. The rising costs of these basic food items further highlight the growing concern over food affordability and its impact on Filipino families,” Manhit explained.
“This persistent upward trend in prices highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring food affordability and accessibility, making it a critical issue that candidates must address in the upcoming elections,” he also said.
In a study published by the Stratbase Institute this month, former Agriculture Undersecretary Dr. Fermin Adriano identified the best approach in developing the country’s agriculture sector.
In his study entitled, “Philippine Agriculture: Quo Vadis”, Adriano emphasized the importance of transitioning from a perpetual protectionist policy to a time-bound approach, arguing that protectionist measures should have a clear timeframe to encourage competition through the entry of imports.
He explained that by gradually opening the market, this shift would promote agricultural liberalization, making it more difficult for cartels to manipulate supply chains and engage in illegal smuggling activities.
“A more competitive environment would reduce price distortions, increase transparency, and weaken cartel dominance, ultimately benefiting consumers and legitimate producers. This approach not only ensures fair market access but also strengthens government oversight and enforcement mechanisms, preventing cartels from exploiting trade restrictions for illicit gain,” Adriano explained in his study.
Furthermore, Adriano highlighted the need to establish the National Information Network (NIN).
“The NIN is important in providing useful information on prices of different agricultural commodities and inputs coming from the different regions from the farm to the final market destination.” This will in turn prevent cartels from profiteering and market price manipulation. Ensuring that the Filipinos will be able to afford food on daily basis,” he said.
