SWS: 86% cheering democracy

THE RANKS of Filipinos who are satisfied with how democracy works reached a new record-high in the third quarter, according to a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which also showed that six out of 10 respondents prefer a democratic than any other kind of government.

The survey — conducted on Sept. 24 to 27 among 1,200 respondents nationwide with sampling error margins of ±3 points for national percentages and ± 6 each for Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao — found that 86% of Filipinos are satisfied with the democratic setting, surpassing the previous record-high of 80% logged in June 2013.

This year’s latest tally is 7 percentage points higher than the 79% recorded in the June survey.

The survey question posed to respondents is: “On the whole, are you (very satisfied; fairly satisfied; not very satisfied; not at all satisfied) with the way democracy works in the Philippines?”

The SWS said satisfaction with the way democracy works has been above 60% since June 2010. However, from October 1999 to June 2009, it exceeded 50% in only two out of 31 surveys.

The SWS noted that the way democracy works peaked with presidential elections; 70% in September 1992, 70% in July 1998, 68% in June 2010, and the record- high 86% in September 2016.

The previous record of 80% in June 2013 was achieved after the May 2013 senatorial elections.

In contrast, the SWS noted, only 44% were satisfied with the way democracy works after the presidential elections in 2004.

Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, elected vice- president in 1998 and assumed presidency in 2001 after Joseph E. Estrada was impeached, was declared winner of the 2004 presidential elections amid cheating allegations. —