Campaign vs illegal drugs is PRRD's most important achievement – survey

Seven in 10 Filipinos consider the eradication of illegal drugs as the most important achievement of the Duterte administration in the past two years, the latest Pulse Asia survey results showed.

This was the majority opinion in all geographic areas from 64 percent in the rest of Luzon to 77 percent in Metro Manila, and socioeconomic classes from 69 percent among the "masa" or Class D to 74 percent in Class ABC.

Meanwhile, 50 percent considered the anti-crime efforts of the Duterte administration as its most significant achievement.

Most of those in Metro Manila (61 percent), Visayas (58 percent), and Classes ABC and E (53 percent and 54 percent, respectively) shared this assessment.

The nationwide survey was conducted from June 15 to 21 among 1,800 respondents.

Also considered important achievements of the administration are the salary increase for police and military personnel (30 percent), and its fight against graft and corruption in government (28 percent).

Meanwhile, 21 percent of Filipinos said the granting of free tuition to students enrolled in public universities and colleges is the most significant achievement of the administration.

The efforts of President Duterte and his administration to create more jobs (15 percent), restore public trust in government and its officials (11 percent), improve the state of the national economy (11 percent), and extend the validity of drivers’ licenses (10 percent) comprised a fifth group of key accomplishments of the present dispensation.

The least often mentioned achievement of the Duterte administration were poverty reduction (8 percent) inflation control (8 percent), extension of the validity of passports (7 percent), no-deposit policy in hospitals (6 percent), lowering of personal income tax (5 percent), and provision of free internet in public areas (3 percent).

Meanwhile, fewer Filipinos wanted the President to prioritize the issues of graft and corruption (16 percent), the country’s territorial sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (16 percent), federalism (5 percent), and charter change (3 percent).

Pulse Asia noted that across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, less than one in 10 Filipinos would like President Duterte to place emphasis on the issue of charter change (2 to 4 percent and 1 to 4 percent, respectively) while preference for the President focusing on federalism in his SONA did not go beyond 10 percent.