PIDS survey: Filipinos moderately familiar on ASEAN

August 25 (PIA) – – Filipinos are moderately familiar with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), survey says.

In a survey conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), 50.2 percent of the 289 respondents said that they are moderately familiar with ASEAN, 32.5 percent are very familiar, 13.1 percent are somewhat familiar and 4.2 percent are slightly familiar.

Funded by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the survey was conducted in 2016 in three major cities in country representing Luzon, Visayas ang Mindanao – Quezon City, Cebu City and Butuan City.

Moderate also describes the awareness of Filipinos on their benefits as members of ASEAN with 46.4 percent of respondents; while 30.1 percent said that they are very familiar with the benefits, 17.3 percent are somewhat familiar and 4.2 percent are fairly familiar.

Only 2.1 percent or about 6 respondents said that they did not know about the benefits of ASEAN membership.

The survey results also showed that the most pressing concerns faced by the Philippines nowadays are internet connection, poverty, corruption, agriculture and food security, and energy provision and prices.

To increase more the level of awareness among Filipinos, the respondents recommended to increase media coverage on ASEAN, celebrate ASEAN Day in public schools yearly like that of UN Day, and encourage the singing of the ASEAN Anthem in schools and government offices.

Another recommendation points out on the use of textbooks to educate students and educators not just about ASEAN history but also about its programs, integration agenda and impacts on the lives of its peoples. (PIA11, Michael Uy)