Pulse Asia: 1 in 2 Pinoys say state of economy worsened

MANILA, Philippines – One in two Filipinos believe the state of the national economy has worsened in the past 12 months, according to Pulse Asia Research’s Survey on Quality of Life and State of the National Economy.

The survey was conducted in December 2013, amid the rising death toll from super typhoon “Yolanda”, on-going rehabilitation efforts in the Visayas, the rise in Meralco rates, the resignation of Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and the fake special allotment release orders (SARO) scam, among others.

“Half of the Filipino population (50%) consider the state of the Philippine economy as having worsened over the last 12 months. Only 11% of Filipinos express a contrary opinion while 40% see no change in the state of the national economy,” Pulse Asia said.

The December 2013 survey results show a significant increase in the percentage of Pinoys who believe the economy has worsened. In June 2013, only 29% of Filipino respondents say the economy deteriorated.

Majority of Filipinos living in Visayas (67%), which was badly hit by “Yolanda”, and in Mindanao (51%), believe the economy worsened in the last 12 months.

Most of those who said the economy has deteriorated say they were “strongly” affected by this economic deterioration (62%). A significant number (79%) of these Filipinos affected by the worsening economy were in the Visayas, followed by Luzon (58%), Mindanao (57%) and NCR (51%).

For the Pinoys who said the economy improved, 61% said they were “somewhat affected” by the growth. Most of these Pinoys (79%) were in NCR, followed by Luzon (67%) and Visayas (64%).

Quality of life

Meanwhile, the Pulse Asia survey also showed 43% of Filipinos say their personal quality of life has deteriorated in the last 12 months, while 41% say there is no change. Only 15% said they are in a better situation in December 2013 than a year ago.

Pulse Asia noted between September and December 2013, there is an 8 percentage point increase in the percentage of Filipinos whose personal QOL deteriorated year-on-year.

Most of those surveyed in Yolanda-hit Visayas (60%) said they are worse off this year, a 22 percentage point increase from the 38% recorded in the September 2013 survey.

Pulse Asia also asked respondents whether they expect any change in personal quality of life by next year. The December survey showed 45% of Filipinos expect no change in their personal circumstances in the next 12 months, while 37% are optimistic it will be better and 19% are pessimistic it will worsen.

“Between September and December 2013, pessimism becomes more manifest (+8 percentage points) while there is a decrease in the percentage of Filipinos expecting their personal situation to remain unchanged in the year ahead (-12 percentage points),” Pulse Asia said.

The survey also showed most Filipinos (55%) believe the national quality of life has worsened over the last 12 months. Many Pinoys (43%) don’t expect any change in the national quality of life in the coming year as well.

The nationwide survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a ± 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a ± 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. —
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