President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PNA file photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – More than half of Filipinos are satisfied with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s initiative to shift the country’s energy usage to renewable energy (RE), according to the first quarter survey of Publicus Asia Inc.
Based on the results of the poll conducted from March 14 to 18, 2024, the Marcos administration received a 68 percent approval rating for its renewable energy push as the government aims to achieve RE mix targets of 35 percent and 50 percent by 2035 and 2050, respectively.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual earlier reported that 51 out of 59 projects endorsed for green lane treatment are in the renewables sector.
The 51 renewable energy (RE) projects with a green lane certification amounted to PHP1.57 trillion.
The Publicus Asia survey also revealed that 65 percent of the respondents expressed approval for President Marcos' efforts in lowering rice prices.
The President has assured the government is doing all it could to ensure a sufficient supply of rice and to stabilize the prices of rice in the country.
“Ginagawa natin lahat upang naman ang produksyon natin ay maging sapat na hindi na tayo nag-iimport, mababawasan ang mga inputs, kung tawagin para sa ating mga farmer at sana naman ay ma-stabilize man lang natin ‘yung presyo ng bigas (We are doing everything so that our production will be sufficient so that we no longer import, inputs will be reduced, so to speak for our farmers and hopefully, we can at least stabilize the price of rice),” he said.
The pollster said about four in 10 Filipinos support the introduction of Bagong Pilipinas, which is the Marcos administration’s brand of governance and leadership, characterized by a principled, accountable, and dependable government reinforced by unified institutions of society.
Publicus Asia, however, said inflation remains the most pressing issue in the country, significantly impacting the overall performance of President Marcos at 29 percent.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects March 2024 headline inflation to settle within 3.4 to 4.2 percent.
According to the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), the government would ramp up the implementation of strategies under the Reduce Emerging Inflation Now (REIN) Plan to ensure that inflation remains within the target band of 2 to 4 percent for 2028.
The “Pahayag 2024 First Quarter Survey” is an independent and non-commissioned survey with 1,500 respondents nationwide. (PNA)
