Pulse Asia: Aquino admin gets poor mark in controlling inflation

(Updated 10:35 a.m.) With three days to go before President Benigno Aquino III delivers his State of the Nation Address, pollster Pulse Asia released results of a new survey showing his administration getting a poor mark in what Filipinos deem a top national concern—controlling inflation.

The survey conducted June 24 to July 2 showed the Aquino administration getting a -15 net approval rating for controlling inflation (26 percent approval, 41 percent disapproval).

Controlling inflation is viewed by 52 percent as among the most urgent issues for the administration.

“Of the various issues covered in this performance probe, inflation is the only one deemed urgent by most Filipinos (52%),” Pulse Asia noted.

The administration also got a -1 net approval rating for reducing the poverty of many Filipinos (32 percent approval, 33 percent disapproval).

Reducing poverty of many Filipinos is viewed by 34 percent of Filipinos as among the most urgent for the administration.

However, the administration got high marks for its efforts against criminality—a majority approval rating for only one of 11 issues where its performance is rated.

It got a majority approval rating of 54 percent in fighting criminality, and a disapproval rating of 14 percent on the issue, for a net approval rating of +40.

Also, it got an approval rating of 50 percent for increasing peace in the country, and a disapproval rating of 17 percent for a net approval rating of +33.

Seven issues

The other seven issues where the administration’s performance was rated included:

• Defending Philippine territory against foreigners: +31 net approval, 47 percent approval, 16 percent disapproval
• Stopping the destruction and abuse of the environment: +29 net approval, 46 percent approval, 17 percent disapproval
• Enforcing the law on all, whether influential or ordinary people: +26 net approval, 44 percent approval, 18 percent disapproval
• Controlling fast population growth: +16 net approval, 39 percent approval, 23 percent disapproval
• Fighting graft and corruption in government: +15 net approval, 42 percent approval, 27 percent disapproval
• Creating more jobs: +11 net approval, 37 percent approval, 26 percent disapproval
• Improving/increasing pay of workers: +6 net approval, 36 percent approval, 30 percent disapproval

Pulse Asia said these approval and indecision ratings are “almost or exactly the same” for rule of law, population growth and job creation.

It added public opinion is split ways for approval, indecision and disapproval for increasing workers’ pay and reducing poverty.

PDAF, DAP factor

Pulse Asia said that while the performance ratings in June were “basically constant” with those in March, there was a “significant decline” in approval for the administration’s anti-corruption initiatives—down by eight percent—and an eight-percent increase in disapproval for it.

“Disapproval for the administration’s work on three issues also becomes pronounced during this time—workers’ pay, poverty reduction, and inflation control (all at +7 percentage points),” it added.

Most urgent

Filipinos remain most concerned about the costs of basic commodities, with 52 percent considering inflation urgent, the survey showed.

Inflation is a majority concern in Metro Manila (56 percent) and Mindanao (58 percent) and all socio-economic classes (51 to 55 percent).

Second is improving/increasing the pay of workers, with 49 percent of Filipinos considering it urgent. Third is fighting graft and corruption, with 47 percent considering it urgent.

Other issues deemed urgent include:

• Creating new jobs, 38 percent
• Reducing poverty of many Filipinos, 34 percent
• Fighting criminality, 20 percent
• Enforcing the law on all, 17 percent
• Stopping the destruction and abuse of environment, 16 percent
• Increasing peace in the country, 16 percent
• Controlling fast population growth, 9 percent

“Five issues are identified as the first-, second- or third-mentioned urgent national concerns by practically the same percentages of Filipinos—controlling inflation (12 to 22 percent), increasing the pay of workers (15 to 18 percent), fighting corruption in government (15 to 17 percent), creating more jobs (12 to 13 percent), and reducing poverty (11 to 12 percent),” Pulse Asia said.

Also, it noted that from March to June, concern on job creation went up by 7 percentage points.

“However, year-on-year, public concern in relation to the need to fight corruption in government becomes more notable (+16 percentage points) while concern for the need to control inflation becomes less marked (-9 percentage points),” it said.

The survey involved interviews with 1,200 adult respondents and has an error margin of ±3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

Issues facing Filipinos

At the time the survey was conducted, the following issues preoccupied Filipinos:

1. The filing of graft and plunder charges against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Revilla, Jr. on June 6; the indictment for plunder of suspected pork mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and key members of the respective legislative staffs of Enrile, Estrada and Revilla; the eventual surrender of Revilla and Estrada; and the “not guilty” plea entered by the Sandiganbayan on behalf of Revilla and Estrada;

2. The Ombudsman’s denial of the petition for immunity of Napoles, former Technology Resource Center (TRC) Chairperson Dennis Cunanan, and two officers of the National Agri-Business Corporation;

3. The petition of the Ombudsman before the Supreme Court for the creation of two special courts to handle cases related to the pork barrel scam, Malacañang’s support for the proposal, and the opposition to the petition expressed by the Sandiganbayan and the lawmakers indicted for plunder;

4. The SC decision declaring several acts under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as unconstitutional for violating the doctrine of separation of powers and the constitutional provision which prohibits the inter-branch transfer of appropriations;

5. The statement of support for President Benigno Aquino III by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and other pro-administration legislators in response to calls for Aquino’s impeachment and the resignation of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad from some opposition lawmakers and militant groups;

6. The creation by the Office of the Ombudsman of a panel that will investigate the realignments in the national budget made by the national administration under the DAP;

7. The Sandiganbayan’s order to suspend former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo for 90 days in connection with her reported involvement in the anomalous NBN-ZTE deal;

8. The tension between the Philippines and China over disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea;

9. Aquino’s call for the Philippine National Police to swiftly resolve crime incidents after the recent series of killings involving several high-profile individuals;

10. The confirmation of the appointments of Secretaries Leila de Lima (justice), Corazon Soliman (social welfare), and Ramon Paje (environment) after being in office for four years;

11. The 116th Philippine independence day on June 12 with Aquino leading rites in Naga City;

12. Aquino’s controversial decision to reject the nomination of Nora Aunor as National Artist for Film

13. The continued failure of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) to meet their target collections for the month of May 2014; the decline in power rates charged by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) in June 2014; the increase in oil prices due to the continued crisis in Iraq and the hike in the price of rice, garlic and sugar reportedly due to lower supply levels; and the DBM’s budget proposal totalling P 2.606 trillion for the year 2015—15% higher than the 2014 national budget.

— Joel Locsin /LBG/KG, GMA News