Pinoys optimistic life will be better in next 12 months – SWS

MANILA, Philippines – More Filipinos are optimistic that their lives will improve in the year ahead, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The SWS poll, conducted from June 3 to 6, showed that 36 percent of respondents believe their lives will get better in the next 12 months compared to nine percent who thought otherwise.

The disparity resulted in a “high” net personal optimism score of +27, or a three-point improvement from March’s similarly “high” +24, the SWS said.

Personal optimism was at a “very high” +35 in November 2010, it said.

According to SWS, net personal optimism scores have been over +20 in the last two years since net +24 in September 2009. The peak of +36 was hit in June 2010, attributed to the change in government following elections a month earlier.

Results of the SWS poll, published in BusinessWorld yesterday, also found 29 percent of Filipinos expecting the economy to improve in the next 12 months, against 16 percent predicting it to get worse.

Asked how their lives had improved in the last 12 months, 33 percent of the respondents said it had worsened (“losers”) and 22 percent said it improved (“gainers”). The resulting net gainers-losers score of -11 was two points up from March, SWS said.

Personal optimism rose in balance Luzon (10 points to +27) and Metro Manila (up four to +34), but fell in the Visayas (five points to +28) and Mindanao (three points to +22).

It rose by 18 points to +39 in the ABC class, by two points to +29 among the Class D or masa, and stayed at +17 in Class E.

Meanwhile, economic optimism improved in most areas (up 18 points to +15 in balance Luzon, seven points to +12 in the Visayas and two points to +11 in Mindanao) except Metro Manila where it hardly changed (+15 from +14).

By socio-economic class, a 13-point improvement to +14 was recorded among the masa and a slightly lower 11-point gain to +14 came in the ABC class. The score was unchanged at +11 among the class E.

The net gainers score, meanwhile, “became less negative” in most areas except Mindanao and turned positive among the ABC class, the SWS said.

It was up seven points to -12 in balance Luzon and by two points each in Metro Manila (-5) and the Visayas (-6). A six-point drop to -16, however, was recorded in Mindanao.

For the ABC class, the gain was 28 points to +12; it was three points to -8 for the masa. A 10-point decline was recorded in Class E, to -27.

For net personal optimism, the SWS classifies scores of +30 and above as “very high” and +20 to +29 as “high” since these are “higher than what is normally expected or are above the category containing the median and mode (termed as “fair,” ranging from +10 to +19).”

In the case of net economic optimism and net gainers-losers, the most common answers, the median and modal are in the “low” and “very low” categories.

The term “fair” is assigned to the negative category (-9 to zero) since it is above what is normally expected. The term “mediocre” is assigned to the category between “fair” and “low.”

The SWS conducted face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide with sampling error margins of plus or minus three percentage points for national and plus or minus six percentage points for area percentages.

Positive snapshot

Malacañang, meanwhile, welcomed the improved optimism among Filipinos, saying increased public spending and the opening of new investments would make public opinion even more positive in the coming months.

“This latest snapshot of public opinion shows that government and the people are one in their positive attitude based on the improved fiscal situation and policies conducive to inclusive growth of the administration. This is a recognition by domestic public opinion that parallels the recognition of improvements in governance and the economy by foreign institutions, whether in terms of the four upgrades given to the government by ratings agencies, or the latest good news on the competitiveness ranking of the Philippines jumping a truly remarkable 10 points in a span of one year,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

“The administration believes that its commitment to transparency and accountability, to policies that are geared toward efficiency and inclusiveness, is being not only recognized but actively supported by our countrymen. The naysaying, apathy, and discouraged attitudes of the past are giving way to a can-do attitude in the public and private sectors, as we continue to unite to make our country more competitive, and achieve growth, stability, and peace despite the many turbulent events in the global economy,” Valte added.

Whether in terms of the SWS numbers last March which were up by three points, or compared to the previous year’s which were up by two points, the Palace said optimism had gained in public opinion on the perceived direction of quality of life for the next 12 months. –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)