Pinoys’ anxiety on economy intensifies, survey shows

Filipinos are getting more anxious about the economy and how it affects them, according to a Laylo Research Strategies survey.

The Jan. 28-Feb. 6 poll, which covered 1,500 respondents, showed 65 percent of Filipinos are anxious about where the country is headed. They consist of the 25 percent who feel the nation is headed in the wrong direction and 40 percent who belong to the undecided.

Asked, “In your opinion, is the country in general headed in the right or the wrong direction?” only 35 percent say the country is on the right track.

In the first few months of the Aquino administration, those saying the country is in the right direction were double this number, it said.

Laylo Research Strategies noted that among the 65 percent who are anxious, there are those whose top concerns are high prices and unemployment.

“Those concerned about high prices consist of 22 percent among undecided and 23 percent among those who think the country is headed in the wrong direction while those who are worried about unemployment consist of 16 percent among the undecided and 14 percent among those who think the country is in the wrong direction,” it said in a statement.

In terms of quality of life, the survey showed that 65 percent of the respondents tend to have fewer gainers and optimists, too.

“A majority of them consider their families as underprivileged. More among them are currently not working.”

Comparing those who are anxious with those who are satisfied with the direction the country is taking, fewer are happy with government efforts to curb corruption and address poverty, it stressed.

“Among the anxious, only 58 percent (as compared to 78 percent among those who think the country is on the right track) are satisfied with efforts to deal with corruption. Similarly, only 43 percent among the anxious (versus 69 percent among the sympathizers) are pleased with government efforts to address poverty,” Laylo Research Strategies said.

According to the survey, President Aquino has less hardcore supporters and allies among this 65 percent. There are more among them who are undecided and a lesser number who think Chief Justice Renato Corona should be removed from office.

“In contrast, the 35 percent who say the country is headed in the right direction are influenced and

driven by what the government is doing mostly on the anti-corruption front alone. They tend to have more gainers than losers; are more optimistic than pessimistic; are less hard-up, with more of them working.

They have higher levels of satisfaction with regard to government actions to address corruption and poverty. There are also more among them who are hardcore supporters and allies of the President. More of them want Corona removed from office.

“In a nutshell, the 65 percent are focused on the economic pinch they currently experience. They are the ones who are hurting and, in a sense, telling government to set its priorities right.”

Laylo Research Strategies said the government’s focus on graft and corruption alone and the administration’s hype on Corona and his removal from office are insufficient for the majority.

“This is beginning to affect the public’s disposition toward the President,” it added. –Daily Tribune